Eating sand...?

Where we discuss the behavior of our hermit crabs, as in fights, pecking orders, shell swaps, etc. Please post all naked-crab posts in the Emergency forum.
Post Reply

Topic author
EmmaBatGirl
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2015 7:13 pm

Eating sand...?

Post by EmmaBatGirl » Sat Aug 27, 2016 8:17 pm

Hi all!

I recently did a deep cleaning of my tank due to finding a few roaches in the substrate. I've used EcoEarth my entire crabbing career but a while ago I had ghats and mold... So I decided to try something new.

I have the tank with half eco earth and half of the Flukers Crab Sand, a pre-mixed sand and coco mix. It's really great so far, came already with 'sand castle' consistency and it doesn't have calcium in it like other hermit crab marketed sand.

I introduced the crabs to the new tank earlier today and noticed that my ping-pong sized PP has just been sitting in the sand and eating it. He might just be smelling it or something, but he's bringing it right up to his 'mouth.'

My larger PP isn't doing this. I have fresh fruit and all kinds of food out for them, so if he is I don't know why he would be eating it.

Thanks in advance for any advice or answers! :)

User avatar

isadoraisacat
Posts: 673
Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2016 6:18 pm
Location: new brunswick, NJ

Re: Eating sand...?

Post by isadoraisacat » Sat Aug 27, 2016 8:21 pm

I think it's normal for crabs to eat the sand and i use flukers and hermit crab patch sand mixed with some coco fiber as well. As far as i know the crabs so eat some of the sub i don't think that's not normal. How did you get roaches of that happened to me I'd prob pay someone to clean the tank as their my worst nightmare and we do have them in our building from time to time God i hope they don't get into my tank !

Sent from my SM-G360T1 using Tapatalk

User avatar

soilentgringa
Posts: 4352
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2014 5:18 pm
Location: Dallas, TX

Re: Eating sand...?

Post by soilentgringa » Sat Aug 27, 2016 8:23 pm

Fluker's crab sand does have calcium in it.

They will also eat the coconut fiber, as well as the calcium.

Sent from my LGLS665 using Tapatalk

User avatar

isadoraisacat
Posts: 673
Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2016 6:18 pm
Location: new brunswick, NJ

Re: Eating sand...?

Post by isadoraisacat » Sat Aug 27, 2016 8:27 pm

soilentgringa wrote:Fluker's crab sand does have calcium in it.

They will also eat the coconut fiber, as well as the calcium.

Sent from my LGLS665 using Tapatalk
Yes hermit crab patch also adds i think oyster shell to the mix i think it's normal for them to eat the sand i leave a supplet dish of oyster shell for my guys so I've only seen them eat that

Sent from my SM-G360T1 using Tapatalk


Topic author
EmmaBatGirl
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2015 7:13 pm

Re: Eating sand...?

Post by EmmaBatGirl » Sat Aug 27, 2016 8:35 pm

isadoraisacat wrote:I think it's normal for crabs to eat the sand and i use flukers and hermit crab patch sand mixed with some coco fiber as well. As far as i know the crabs so eat some of the sub i don't think that's not normal. How did you get roaches of that happened to me I'd prob pay someone to clean the tank as their my worst nightmare and we do have them in our building from time to time God i hope they don't get into my tank !

Sent from my SM-G360T1 using Tapatalk
I *hate* roaches too! I took the crabs out and put them in the ISO tank, then had my brother take the tank outside where it sat overnight to get them out. Then T just took all the decor out and boiled it. Then I just deep cleaned the tank like I normally would. According to the care guides the roaches won't hurt them, but it's more me who doesn't want them in there.

User avatar

isadoraisacat
Posts: 673
Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2016 6:18 pm
Location: new brunswick, NJ

Re: Eating sand...?

Post by isadoraisacat » Sat Aug 27, 2016 8:39 pm

EmmaBatGirl wrote:
isadoraisacat wrote:I think it's normal for crabs to eat the sand and i use flukers and hermit crab patch sand mixed with some coco fiber as well. As far as i know the crabs so eat some of the sub i don't think that's not normal. How did you get roaches of that happened to me I'd prob pay someone to clean the tank as their my worst nightmare and we do have them in our building from time to time God i hope they don't get into my tank !

Sent from my SM-G360T1 using Tapatalk
I *hate* roaches too! I took the crabs out and put them in the ISO tank, then had my brother take the tank outside where it sat overnight to get them out. Then T just took all the decor out and boiled it. Then I just deep cleaned the tank like I normally would. According to the care guides the roaches won't hurt them, but it's more me who doesn't want them in there.
Oh trust me i fear them. I would be pooping my pants in fear. We get them in our building and its so scary. Of course i have to kill them as my wife won't. One day i was leaving for work and there was one on the stairs out the building flipped over they like to play dead. I was gonna step on it and it flipped over than i got this weird saddness over me and decided to usher it out side and it went down the stairs out the building and ..... FLEW INTO THE TREE!!! YES IT FLEW ! I hate living in the city we have so many i didn't even think of them going into the tank now I'm going to be basically in panic fear mode for the remainder of my crabbing career now.

Sent from my SM-G360T1 using Tapatalk

User avatar

aussieJJDude
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 5010
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:12 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Re: Eating sand...?

Post by aussieJJDude » Sat Aug 27, 2016 8:56 pm

Possibly contains micro-organisms in which the crabs eat... But yeah, I've seen crabs eat sand. Nothing to worry about.
|| Avid Aquarist Addict (2007) || Crazy Crabbing Connoisseur (2012) || Amateur Aroid Admirer (2014) ||

I strive to make HCA a welcoming space for all
Infrequently on due to studies, on a little more on in FB group

User avatar

isadoraisacat
Posts: 673
Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2016 6:18 pm
Location: new brunswick, NJ

Re: Eating sand...?

Post by isadoraisacat » Sat Aug 27, 2016 9:40 pm

This thread jinxed me got home to a nice big fat roach straight from the fires of satan himself in my bathroom i won the battle but it didn't go with out a fight

Sent from my SM-G360T1 using Tapatalk

Post Reply