Should My Crabitat Smell When I Open the Top?

[bandaidstealer]

When I pull back the plastic wrap I notice that the crabitat is kinda stinky. Both of the boys are alive and neither is molting. It's not a terribly strong smell, but it does smell. I just want to make sure that this is okay? The Crabitat has only been set up for 9 days...

[hermiwormi]

It could easily be old food that the crabs have buried or dragged through the substrate. It could also be the substrate itself since both crabs are alive and well.

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[piratetoothgir]

What does it smell like?
Naturally, it should smell a bit earthy and warm, but if you fed something stinky, it'll cause the tank to smell like the food.

[hermiwormi]

What does it smell like?
Naturally, it should smell a bit earthy and warm, but if you fed something stinky, it'll cause the tank to smell like the food.

Yep, yep. I fed stinky fish recently with the rest of their food and forgot what it was that I fed. It smelled quite alot the next day and I assumed a crab was dead, until I remembered that I fed smelly food. Facepalm.

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[bandaidstealer]

I have a lot of crab food that the person who owned them before me gave to us, I usually give them a little bit of that along with fresh fruit and vegetables. I suppose it could be that since I think it's shrimp or krill or something along those lines.

It's not a terribly potent smell, and it does subside after awhile if I leave the corner of the plastic turned back a few inches... just want to make sure it's okay and not something to worry about. This is my first time with Hermit Crabs in 30 years (and we definitely did not know back then what we know now).

[ciaraalston]

I know when i first set up my 20 with play sand from walmart, the tank smelled when I opened it. I didn't smell anything when I was adding the sand, but after a day or so it smelled really bad in the tank. I didn't offer fresh foods back then, only powder, so I knew it wasn't the food. They didn't touch it much anyway. Once I swapped the walmart sand for a different back from home depot, the smell went away.
Of course the eco earth being mixed in has an earthy smell to it, and fresh foods will have a bad smell if they drag them off. But if you know it's not food then I'd check the sand. mine only drag off walnuts to the mason jar so i don't lose any food but some crabs will take food and bury it or hide it and you won't see it when changing dishes.

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