HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I had some nice wood for my hermies that my boyfriend had from his old chameleon. I have a mist king and it’s been great but some of the wood branches were in the way so tonight I was moving them around and noticed mold. What’s the best way to clean up the wood and deal with it for the future? Or should I just get fake wood?


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i think i saw someone post somewhere else about boiling it, then giving it a salt water soak.

Mold isn't harmful to crabs.

Mold isn’t harmful to hermit crabs. You can try soaking the wood in saltwater or baking it, but the mold will eventually die off on its own.

I personally prefer leaving it alone. The mold will eventually die off. Some do soak their wood in msw and some do bake it. That can cause it to shrink. Mold isn’t harmful to the crabs, but it can be harmful to us if we inhale the spores.


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Thanks you guys! So I’m best off just leaving it be? I don’t want to mess with it if they’ll be okay


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Ya, unless you have allergies, you can just leave the mold be.

That is what I would do

I just posted a Q in another thread but these suggestions are very good. I didn’t know mold wasn’t harmful to crabs.

I also found mold in my wood, I cleaned it off and soaked it in salt water After that I let it air dry in the sun for a whole day. Waited until it was completely dry to put it back in. I was also lucky enough to get isopods to help prevent the mold from coming back. No mold ever since.


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HHIhermies1004 wrote:I also found mold in my wood, I cleaned it off and soaked it in salt water After that I let it air dry in the sun for a whole day. Waited until it was completely dry to put it back in. I was also lucky enough to get isopods to help prevent the mold from coming back. No mold ever since.


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Isopods, huh? I still have to do some research and wrap my head around those. I’ll definitely try the soak in MSW technique. Thanks!

ApePlanet wrote:

HHIhermies1004 wrote:I also found mold in my wood, I cleaned it off and soaked it in salt water After that I let it air dry in the sun for a whole day. Waited until it was completely dry to put it back in. I was also lucky enough to get isopods to help prevent the mold from coming back. No mold ever since.


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Isopods, huh? I still have to do some research and wrap my head around those. I’ll definitely try the soak in MSW technique. Thanks!

I understand the hesitation I also was very reluctant about the isopod, but I swear by them I haven't seen any poop in the tank and more importantly no mold. They never escape out of the tank and I don't see them very much in the tank yet I know they're doing a good job. Good luck with the mold, I know the MSW will work but I'm not sure about reoccurrence in the future.


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HHIhermies1004 wrote:

ApePlanet wrote:

HHIhermies1004 wrote:I also found mold in my wood, I cleaned it off and soaked it in salt water After that I let it air dry in the sun for a whole day. Waited until it was completely dry to put it back in. I was also lucky enough to get isopods to help prevent the mold from coming back. No mold ever since.


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Isopods, huh? I still have to do some research and wrap my head around those. I’ll definitely try the soak in MSW technique. Thanks!

I understand the hesitation I also was very reluctant about the isopod, but I swear by them I haven't seen any poop in the tank and more importantly no mold. They never escape out of the tank and I don't see them very much in the tank yet I know they're doing a good job. Good luck with the mold, I know the MSW will work but I'm not sure about reoccurrence in the future.


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I just read that if you go the isopod route, you shouldn’t use MSW or maybe a very light amount of MSW when mixing with your substrate. Is this true?

ApePlanet wrote:

HHIhermies1004 wrote:

ApePlanet wrote: Isopods, huh? I still have to do some research and wrap my head around those. I’ll definitely try the soak in MSW technique. Thanks!

I understand the hesitation I also was very reluctant about the isopod, but I swear by them I haven't seen any poop in the tank and more importantly no mold. They never escape out of the tank and I don't see them very much in the tank yet I know they're doing a good job. Good luck with the mold, I know the MSW will work but I'm not sure about reoccurrence in the future.


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I just read that if you go the isopod route, you shouldn’t use MSW or maybe a very light amount of MSW when mixing with your substrate. Is this true?

I soaked my Substrate with MSW and same with wood and all my isopods are alive and well. I mist with distilled water cause it doesn't leave any streaks on the glass. I haven't seen any dead isopods laying around. If I do have some dead ones then my crabbies are eating them which is a plus .


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It depends on the species of isopod you use. Some will be more tolerant of salt than others.