HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Basically my hermit crab has saltwater currently but it’s a mixture that doesn’t have enough minerals for her, I want to buy some sea salt but all the instant ocean salts are 10 gallons or more, are there any other companies that have good salt that sell in a smaller amount you recommend?

Hi!

The 10 gal box is only 3lbs of salt, so it doesn't take up much space. This is the size I buy for my dozen hermits and it lasted me over a year. It's about $6 right now at Petco, so you get a decent amount for cheap:

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostor ... arium-salt

I stored the extra in a ziplock bag in the beginning. Now I store it in a small sealable plastic container with my measuring cup. I don't know off hand if there are any other marine salts that come in less than a 3 lb bag.

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Thank you so much! And amazing update on my crab, she molted!!! That’s why I want to get the salt as soon as possible to help harden her exoskeleton!

When I got into keeping hermit crabs ~8-9 months ago, I couldn't find instant ocean available locally in anything other than a 5gal bucket size at I think was over $100.

I wound up going with a smaller bucket sized container of Red Sea marine mix from a local fish store for under $20. This size will last me a few years.

Pike_finn wrote:Thank you so much! And amazing update on my crab, she molted!!! That’s why I want to get the salt as soon as possible to help harden her exoskeleton!

Yw! How awesome! If you'd like me to send you a little of my Instant Ocean until you get yours, I'd be glad to. Just let me know.

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That would be wonderful but you’ve already helped me so much and I’m sure I can go out and get it in the next day or two!

Pike_finn wrote:That would be wonderful but you’ve already helped me so much and I’m sure I can go out and get it in the next day or two!

Sounds good! If you have trouble finding any just let me know.

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I hope someone sees this. May I have suggestions for good sea salt? I've been using Instant Ocean, a 10-gallon box. It's time to buy more & I'm having a difficult time finding it in the small box for less than $22. The price shouldn't be over $8-9.

What other brands are recommended that I may also buy in a smaller quantity?

I have 2 purple pinchers. A small box lasts a long time.

Thanks!
Cilla

I'm not sure about specific brands, but just make sure the pack is marine salt. You can also use the reef crystals from Instant ocean.

The 'water' care sheet lists a few brands:

The correct type of salt to buy is the kind sold in the saltwater fish section. The specialty “reef” salt that many of these brands offer is also completely hermit crab safe, and often contains extra calcium.

Instant Ocean
Instant Ocean Reef Crystals
Coralife
Kent Marine
Red Sea
Seachem Marine
Tropic Marin

All of the major salt brands are measured the same, depending on how much you need:

1 gallon of water to ½ cup of salt mix

½ gallon (which is 2 quarts) of water to ¼ cup salt mix

1 Pint (which is 2 cups) of water to 1 Tablespoon (which is 3 teaspoons) salt mix

1 cup of water to ½ Tablespoon (which is 1 and ½ teaspoon) of salt mix