What is substrate?
Substrate is the type of material or medium that covers the bottom of your enclosure. This is SUPER important. Believe it or not, this could determine the life or death of your hermit crab. Let's take a look why...
Substrate is the type of material or medium that covers the bottom of your enclosure. This is SUPER important. Believe it or not, this could determine the life or death of your hermit crab. Let's take a look why...
Here are some substrates that are commonly sold for hermit crabs and even come in hermit crab "kits". However, all these substrates are not appropriate to use with hermit crabs and should be avoided. Hermit crabs need to burrow into their substrate when they go to molt or take off their exoskeleton so they can grow. This is a crucial time in a hermit crab's life. It is a very stressful process and not all hermit crabs survive it. If your substrate is not ideal and is not deep enough, your hermit crab will put off molting and can die. They can also attempt to surface molt. While some crabs do survive a surface molt, the majority do not. However, I have read articles where hermit crabs still surface molt even when given the proper substrate. Personally, I have never experienced a surface molt but that's not to say I won't in the future. You can read more about molting HERE. Some hermit crabs also burrow to de-stress and some like to burrow and dig for fun.
NO GOs - do not use these types of substrates
Gravel- hermit crabs cannot dig in gravel. Gravel also cannot hold heat or humidity. It cannot hold the shape of their tunnels when they burrow to molt. This is one of the worst substrates you can use for your hermit crab. Gravel can also damage hermit crab legs. Do not use aquarium gravel or any other type of gravel!
NO GOs - do not use these types of substrates
Gravel- hermit crabs cannot dig in gravel. Gravel also cannot hold heat or humidity. It cannot hold the shape of their tunnels when they burrow to molt. This is one of the worst substrates you can use for your hermit crab. Gravel can also damage hermit crab legs. Do not use aquarium gravel or any other type of gravel!
"Hermit Crab Sand"- There are many brands of some sand marketed specifically towarards hermit crabs. These types are calcium sand. This fine sand can also be called "reptile sand". Usually it is chemically dyed in bright " fun" colors or can be natural in color. This sand turns to a type of cement when wet and can glue a hermit crab into its shell which can end in death. It also doesn't keep heat or humidity in the tank. Instead, it harbors bacteria and produces a foul odor after some time.
Aquarium sand- Although it looks harmless enough, aquarium sand is not a suitable substrate. The majority of aquarium sand are dyed which is harmful to your hermit crabs. "Live" aquarium sand contains bacteria and is made specifically to help break down waste in an aquarium and balance out nitrates/nitrites and ph levels. You do not want added bacteria in your crabitat.
Puka shell, crushed coral, crushed oyster shell etc. - Puka shell and many types of crushed shells make a great addition to hermit crab habitats. They are a great source of calcium and help your hermit crabs to grow. These should be used as a supplement to your soil but never as a main substrate. Hermit crabs cannot make tunnels if this is their only substrate.
Beach sand- Beach sand is a great substrate to use. The only reason it's on the no go list is because beach sand harvested from the wild contains bacteria. Also, it is illegal in many places to take sand off a beach. Depending on the area you harvest from, your beach sand may contain pollutants and radiation. If you do want to use beach sand, make sure to thouroughly rinse with marine salt water and then bake in the oven to sanitize. The Hermit crab patch makes a great substrate ready and available to use right away. It is a mix of clean Florida beach sand, coir, and salt water. I believe they also sell a DIY kit where you can make your own mixed substrate.
YES! Let's use these substrates instead..
Coconut Coir-This is a by product from when coconuts are harvested and is 100% natural material. Coir is the fiber (husk) that is on the outside of the coconut shell. Coconut coir comes in various forms. You can buy them in dried bricks that need to be reconstituted and you can also buy them loose. Although coco coir is commonly used for gardening, it's also used for bedding for reptiles and amphibians and can be found at just about any pet store. Coco coir is a great substrate because it holds moisture very well. When moistening coco coir, make sure your substrate is not soaking wet! Also make sure that you are using dechlorinated water or better yet, marine grade salt water. I would not recommend using coco coir as a substrate alone. When crabs go to molt, sometimes other crabs may try to dig them up to eat them and coir alone does not offer enough protection for the hermit crab.
Coconut Coir-This is a by product from when coconuts are harvested and is 100% natural material. Coir is the fiber (husk) that is on the outside of the coconut shell. Coconut coir comes in various forms. You can buy them in dried bricks that need to be reconstituted and you can also buy them loose. Although coco coir is commonly used for gardening, it's also used for bedding for reptiles and amphibians and can be found at just about any pet store. Coco coir is a great substrate because it holds moisture very well. When moistening coco coir, make sure your substrate is not soaking wet! Also make sure that you are using dechlorinated water or better yet, marine grade salt water. I would not recommend using coco coir as a substrate alone. When crabs go to molt, sometimes other crabs may try to dig them up to eat them and coir alone does not offer enough protection for the hermit crab.
All purpose sand/ play sand- You can use high quality play sand or cleaned all purpose sand as your substrate. The only draw back with using just sand is that it does not hold moisture too well. You can find play sand ar your local hardware store. This type of sand is super cheap and you get a lot! I buy all purpose sand at my local hardware store for $2.99 for a 50 lb bag. I use almost two bags for a 40 gallon tank to make substrate 6-7 inches deep, but I also mix this with coir. Which leads us to preferred substrate used...
Ideal substrate 5:1 mix - I noticed pretty early on in hermit crab forums, a large amount of hermit crab owners prefer to use a mixed substrate. 5 parts sand to 1 part coir seems to be popular with hermit crabs. I started off with a 50/50 mix of coir / sand mix and have slowly transitioned to the 5:1 ratio. Many of my hermits started molting after the transition but that could be coincidental. This is now what we use in our main crabitat as well as our ISO tanks. I make sure to thoroughly dampen the substrate with dechlorinated water. You should be able to squeeze your substrate in your hand and it should keep its shape like when you build sand castles. Make sure to check the moisture content of your substrate from time to time. You do not want dry substrate! If you are misting daily, this should not be an issue. Your substrate should also not be soaking wet.
How deep should my substrate be?
The guidlines above are the ones I use. General rule of thumb is making sure your substrate is 2-3 times as deep as your biggest crab in the crabitat. Adjust your substrate depth accordingly. You want to make sure your hermit crab has enough room to completely bury himself in his substrate.
I have a medium hermit crab who likes to dig all the way to the bottom of his crabitat. I could hear him scraping his shell along the bottom of the glass and I had 6/7 inches of substrate. I added a couple more inches and he still likes to sit at the bottom. Go figure.
I have a medium hermit crab who likes to dig all the way to the bottom of his crabitat. I could hear him scraping his shell along the bottom of the glass and I had 6/7 inches of substrate. I added a couple more inches and he still likes to sit at the bottom. Go figure.
What can I add to suppliment my substrate?
There are many things you can add to the top of your substrate, or even mix into your substrate. Calcium is very important in a hermit crab's diet to have a strong exoskeleton. Hermit crabs are scavengers and will eat yummy stuff they find on and in the sand. You can add crushed oyster shell, crushed coral, Puka shell, earth worm castings, egg powder, crushed eggshells, etc. There are also other ways to add calcium to your hermit crab's diet. Supplementing your substrate is not mandatory and is a personal decision. Just make sure your hermit crabs have a source of calcium in their tank. Calcium is important for hermit crabs to grow strong exo skeletons especially after a molt.
Hermit crabs have very soft abdomens hidden in their shell, so be careful in adding anything that can get into their shell and cut them.
There are many things you can add to the top of your substrate, or even mix into your substrate. Calcium is very important in a hermit crab's diet to have a strong exoskeleton. Hermit crabs are scavengers and will eat yummy stuff they find on and in the sand. You can add crushed oyster shell, crushed coral, Puka shell, earth worm castings, egg powder, crushed eggshells, etc. There are also other ways to add calcium to your hermit crab's diet. Supplementing your substrate is not mandatory and is a personal decision. Just make sure your hermit crabs have a source of calcium in their tank. Calcium is important for hermit crabs to grow strong exo skeletons especially after a molt.
Hermit crabs have very soft abdomens hidden in their shell, so be careful in adding anything that can get into their shell and cut them.
Please note: this is not an all inclusive list but is to be used as a reference in providing correct substrate for your hermit crab.
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