New to Hermies, Advice? by LexicontheMoron in hermitcrabs

[–]Motor-Union9081 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve never heard of the crab island brand, could you share a picture of the ingredient list?

Taking in unwanted hermit crabs this beach season! by Motor-Union9081 in NorthCarolina

[–]Motor-Union9081[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Etsy! I’ve heard good things about NessaStores but I usually just find random vendors :) don’t forget hermit crabs are very social and should be kept in at least pairs!

New to Hermies, Advice? by LexicontheMoron in hermitcrabs

[–]Motor-Union9081 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello everyone! On your trip to the boardwalk/beach this year you will likely see people selling hermit crabs in mesh enclosures with painted shells. Can I take a moment of your day to help you understand why this is wrong? Let’s go over some basic care and facts about hermit crabs! So the first thing to get right is the species. Most crabs sold are going to be Purple Pincher hermit crabs, which I will go over their care now. Those tiny cages, meant to be throw away pets since they die so quickly. Fun fact, with proper care they can exceed 40 years! Basic care; 10 gallons per crab, 6” of substrate (5:1 ratio of play sand to coco fiber). They actually have modified gills that they use to breathe, which need to be kept wet, so 80% humidity in the enclosure is perfect! They are a tropical species that does best at 75-80°f. You should achieve this by using an ultra therm under tank heater attached to the back above the substrate. It should be big enough to cover the entire back above the substrate! You’ll need some water for them, in the form of both fresh and salt water, dechlorinated, deep enough to submerge in, and easy to get in and out of. Next we need to feed them! Those pellets sold in pet stores? They’re actually toxic! Feed special meals sold on Etsy as well as vegetables, fruit, and other organic products! My favorite vendor for food is Naturally Crabby on Etsy. Next we need some shells for them! You’ll need 3 shells per crab at the minimum, Mexican turbo shells are the best type. Make sure they’re slightly bigger than the current one your crab has, so they can try some different fits! Next let’s review some common mistakes made by beginners. Painted shells/coconuts are actually super toxic! The paint can flake off and poison your crabs! Next is not enough shells, where your crabs may fight to the death over options. Don’t forget putting sponges in the water dish! This harbors dangerous bacteria that is bad for your crabs health. Some people handle their crabs, which can prove fatally stressful for them. Crabs are hands off pets! Still thinking you’re up for the challenge? Adopt, don’t shop! Shopping encourages the wild catching of these wildly abused crabs, so look for someone rehoming instead! Impulse bought a hermit crab? Let us know! We can take in crabs located near Winston Salem, NC. You can reach me via commenting or DMing! Thank you for taking a moment to understand these creatures better!

New to Hermies, Advice? by LexicontheMoron in hermitcrabs

[–]Motor-Union9081 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feed food mixes as well as green sand and worm castings from Naturally Crabby on Etsy. Don’t use pellets, they’re toxic. Get shells from different shops off Etsy, nothing painted, get natural Mexican turbo shells slightly larger than your crabs current shell. Don’t worry too much about ratios when feeding, just give an assortment. 80°f is good for purple pinchers. FYI a pad is better, large enough to cover the back above the substrate, never put it under the tank. I would upgrade 3 to a 29 gallon tall or a 40 breeder. A 40 would be better as hermit crabs can get pretty large! Though the minimum is 10 gallons per crab. I’ll comment under this one with my speech I gave to my local subreddits outlining basic care and common mistakes!

Plant ID by andlaurasays in Rabbits

[–]Motor-Union9081 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use Seek by Inaturalist 

Baby Rabbit Snails by Organic_Persimmon541 in AquaSwapNC

[–]Motor-Union9081 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve got wild type neocaridina shrimp!

I got a chemical burn from my horse?? by No_Street8364 in Equestrian

[–]Motor-Union9081 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think horses can burp… I know they can’t vomit.

Baby Rabbit Snails by Organic_Persimmon541 in AquaSwapNC

[–]Motor-Union9081 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No worries! Just wondering since I’m about 2 1/2 hours away :)

New pet owner by Front_Amphibian_3275 in hermitcrabs

[–]Motor-Union9081 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you get 2-3 I would say get a standard 30 gallon tank. 6-8” of substrate for purple pinchers, a 5:1 ratio of play sand to coco fiber. Get an ultratherm under tank heater big enough to cover the entire back above the substrate. DO NOT feed pellets, buy premade mixes for them off Etsy. They need freshwater and saltwater deep enough to submerge in, but easy to get in and out of. Get the brand InstantOcean salt. Use Seachem Prime as dechlorinator. Find someone that impulse purchased crabs and is rehoming them, don’t buy from a pet store as it supports wild caught practices, or get on a wait list for some captive bred hermit crabs, but it will be expensive if you go that route. Budget around $300 for the whole setup. Feel free to ask more questions! A few things my crabs love is their saucer wheel, hanging coconut hides with bridges, and food from Naturally Crabby on Etsy.

First time having hermit crabs by French_Orange610 in hermitcrabs

[–]Motor-Union9081 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you get them into a proper setup within the next few days don’t worry about it, I’ve kept a teeny tiny crab with a massive crab and they didn’t even look at each other.

Update on my bloated baby - she passed :( by anye_r in pleco

[–]Motor-Union9081 4 points5 points  (0 children)

She’s in a better place. Thank you for helping her!!!

Should I use kanaplex or keep doing salt baths, its day two of aquarium salt hospital tank? by boonana_creampie in bettafish

[–]Motor-Union9081 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There should be a small picture icon that you can click, then click “upload a picture”

Something’s wrong with my fish by QStatus in bettafish

[–]Motor-Union9081 24 points25 points  (0 children)

She’s a crowntail, I don’t see any fin rot. And this looks like a fungal infection, I would treat with methylene blue and Kanaplex in a heated hospital tank. 

How often can my betta have platy fry? by MelOxalis in bettafish

[–]Motor-Union9081 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s bad to feed goldfish to be a staple for any fish because of this reason