How am i supposed to clean my substrate if all of them are buried?

[Pebbles]

I'll have my crabs for about four months next month. I want to clean their whole tank, substrate and all. But they are all buried. They are never all at the surface at once. At least one crab is buried. I dont want to dig them up, but i really want to clean their tank. How am i supposed to clean my substrate if all of them are buried?


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[curlysister]

If you have proper substrate, you never need to clean it all unless you have an emergency like a flood or bacterial bloom. I have had my crabs for over 9 years and have never replaced all their substrate, only added more as they grew and I upgraded tanks. Don't dig them up. Just surface clean any bits of food or poop that are laying around. And be careful if moving items in the tank, don't pull anything that is in the sane, so you don't collapse any tunnels or caves.

[Pebbles]

A bunch of fruit flies come into the tank over the summer because I put in fruits and veggies for the crabs. It is now gonna be winter and theyre still there because the weather in the tank is kind of warm amd humid like summer. They are laying eggs and growing in the substrate. I dont think they are harming the crabs as of now but I just want to get rid of them before they get out of control.


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[Hermiesguardian]

A bunch of fruit flies come into the tank over the summer because I put in fruits and veggies for the crabs. It is now gonna be winter and theyre still there because the weather in the tank is kind of warm amd humid like summer. They are laying eggs and growing in the substrate. I dont think they are harming the crabs as of now but I just want to get rid of them before they get out of control.


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You can put a cup of apple cider vinegar with a little dish soap in the tank when they are all sleeping. Usually during the day. But be in the area so you can check. Also put that outside the tank. Cover it with saran wrap and poke holes in it.

[Pebbles]

I'll try it and let you guys know hot it goes. Thanks


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[Hermiesguardian]

I'll try it and let you guys know hot it goes. Thanks


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You're welcome.