Making Saltwater for Hermit Crabs Using Aquarium Salt
Even land hermit crabs need salt water to survive. A hermit crab must keep its gills moist at all times or it will die. Furthermore, chlorine and the iodine in table salt are harmful to hermit crabs, so owners must use dechlorinated water and special aquarium salts to keep their crabs healthy. Providing bowls of both fresh and salt water for your crab will allow it to maintain the proper levels of salinity in its gills.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 pint water
- Dechlorinator (if using tap water)
- Pot
- Bottle or jar with lid
- 1 tbsp. aquarium salt
- Dish, bowl or large shell
Instructions
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1
Dechlorinate a pint of tap water. You can do this either by mixing in a commercial dechlorinating product or by leaving the water in an open container for 24 hours, allowing the chlorine to evaporate into the air. If you use a commercial dechlorinator, use the amount specified on your product.
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2
Heat the water until it's nearly boiling, as hot water dissolves salt more quickly. Pour the water into a clean bottle or jar with a lid.
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3
Add one tablespoon of aquarium salt to the bottle, or the amount of salt per pint that your particular brand recommends. Cap and shake vigorously.
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4
Allow the water to cool to room temperature. Pour it into a shallow bowl, dish or large shell that's big enough for your hermit crab to enter but small enough that it will not become trapped or drown.
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Tips & Warnings
If you prefer, use bottled water instead of dechlorinated tap water.
If you use a commercial dechlorinator, it may only tell you the amount to add to a gallon of water, not a pint. There are eight pints in a gallon, so if it tells you to add a teaspoon to a gallon of water, add 1/8 teaspoon to the pint.
Keep a bowl of fresh water and a bowl of salt water available for your crab at all times.
Never use table salt for hermit crabs. It contains iodine, which is harmful to them.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
