QuestionQUESTION: Hey. I have been reading your site naturally crabby ( and love it keep updating :) )and was reading about water conditioners and how to get one with out a slime coat. How important is it to have or not have the slime coat, like if you have the slime coat how bad is it and how is it bad? I have looked for a while and it is really hard trying to find one without it. Thanks.
Tony.
ANSWER: This is a fairly controversial question and you'll get crabbers on both sides. I've had little trouble finding slime coat free conditioners even at walmart. Aquarium Pharmaceuticals has two or three with no slime coat.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: First thing: I live in Canada and only have 1 Wal-mart around and i have looked and looked and all i have found were pets with out proper care. But anyway a second topic: How and should i clean all things i bring home before i put them in the tank? I bought a coconut hut, a few shells and a plastic plant all in bags (except the coconut hut). Would they be safe enough to use right away or should i clean them and how would i? Finally for the play sand again should i clean it or leave as is? Thanks
ANSWER: You can boil the shells, soak the cocohut in salt water and then bake at 250 until dry, the plants can be scrubbed in salt water and then left in the sun to dry. Playsand can be wetted down and baked in pans although I've never had a problem just adding mine.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I know that you must think that i think you have nothing better to do then answer my questions but please answer one more haha. I have read on many different sites to play with your hermit crabs out side of the tank, but i have also read about carpet mites. Are carpet mites a real hazard or are they only is some parts of the world or what? I would love to bring my hermies outside of the cage and let them roam my room and other rooms. Thank you, you have been one of the most influential people to me so far keep up the good work :D
AnswerI have never heard anything about carpet mites. I don't think they would be an issue. Although if you have a link, I'd love to read about it. The mites that hermit crabs get I very much doubt come from carpets. As far as letting your crabs roam, personally, I'm not in favor of it. Crabs are fast and good at hiding, I've had too many owners emailing me frantic to find their lost crabs. Plus the humidity/temperature outside the crabitat are rarely favorable to crab health. Also, very few crabs are comfortable interacting with people. So please use caution, watch carefully for signs of stress from your crabs (if they begin dropping legs it's time to stop taking them out), and keep a close eye on them when they are out!
