HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I’m planning on purchasing a 10 gallon water cooler from Home Depot so I can use tap conditioner and then have a spigot to dispense it. Is there a limit as to how long it can be stored for? Would a large amount like this get “stale” over time?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Once water is dechlorinated, it will start growing unwanted extras like bacteria and algae. Stagnant water is at greater risk. It shouldn't bother the crabs to use it, but there's no benefit to it either.

[mention]wodesorel [/mention] Can I ask how people typically measure dechlorinator in such small amounts? If I were to only make a gallon with what I purchased I would need 0.05mil which is such a small amount. It would have to be measured out with a micropipette.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

2 to 4 drops per gallon. I just poke a hole in the seal with a needle and use it as a dropper.

wodesorel wrote:2 to 4 drops per gallon. I just poke a hole in the seal with a needle and use it as a dropper.

Thanks! I guess I was just worried about adding too much. I wasn’t sure if that had any negative effects.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The active ingredient in Prime and other plain dechlorinators is really hard to overdose. Seachem used to have a study on their website that showed no harmful effects at 100xs a normal dose - not that it should be used at that strength but just that its safe if it happens. I've accidentally dumped an entire bottle in my small fishtank, which is why I went looking, and all my fish survived. The most it does is remove oxygen from the water which can suffocate fish and other aquatic animals, but that wouldn't apply to hermit crabs.

This is such a good idea, I want to do something like this for salt water. I hate dragging it out and mixing it up every few weeks. I bet SW would keep better too...

My crabs live in my attic (with no sink on that level...have to go down the stairs) so I use empty 1 gallon water jugs and pre-make their water in batches.

Is this OK to do? If not, what should I be doing instead? Thanks!

I do the same thing. I have one gallon for salt water and one for fresh


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I feel like crummy plastic jugs are not ideal for long term water storage but I certainly can't think of anything better

I have a plastic spray bottle that I mix mine in: holds a little less than a gallon, so I use about 2 drops. It's actually a convenient shape for pouring, and the top isn't too cumbersome. I shake it up daily and use it to refill water dishes (as-is for one and a w/ a spoonful of IO for the other). If I notice my humidity has dropped I also use it to mist.

ROSIEonFIRE wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 24, 2022 6:11 pm

I feel like crummy plastic jugs are not ideal for long term water storage but I certainly can't think of anything better

the gallons don't last for a really long term so they work for me anyway