Hey! I was wondering how much salt water a crab needs and how much salt to put in the water. If you could let me know that would be great.

Thanks!

What kind of crabs?

I've kept fidder crabs in fresh water, but I heard they need brackish which would mean a little salt (about the amount you would put in to treat sick goldies/tropicals...I'm thinking around 1 tablespoon per gallon).

If you're talking about hermit crabs, I give mine a little pool of salt water in addition to their fresh. They seem to enjoy it. That one has about 3 tablespoons of salt per gallon.

Chrissy

They are hermit crabs and the water dish that it was going to be isn't even half a gallon, it is the glass oval shaped ones that they sell with them, I had plan on getting another one of those for the salt water. What would they do with it besides play in it, would they drink it or what? Do you think it is needed because some of the websites i have looked at have not said anything about it.

Please let me know!

I've had the same problem with websites, some say they need it and others don't. One even said that only certain species need it..presumably they sit in/drink it to regulate their salt concentrations...but I'm really not sure to be honest. Our two crabs were in a small critter keeper for a few months with only fresh water until we moved them to a 20gal tank where there was room for a second dish. The lack of salt water didnt seem to harm them, but we added some as a precaution, and they do seem to enjoy it.

Chrissy

okay so if there is room to add another dish, then go ahead. How much salt would you put in? It is one of those glass oval type ones that they sell at the pet store, not deep at all, if you put a baby fish in it, it would die becuase there is not enough water for it.

A year ago I typed out a whole post for you about hermit crab care.

http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=45877

it still doesnt answer how much salt to put in the dish that is not even 1/4 of a gallon

You don't want to use regular salt but a mix made for marine aquariums. There's no exact measurement for it; just like in a marine aquarium you need a hydrometer to measure the salt amount. And yes, all hermit crabs do require some saltwater in spite of what some sites say. The ones I listed for you before are the most reputable hermit crab sites you can find.

Why don't you mix a half gallon of the salty water at a time and keep it in a designated jug? That way the salinity remains the same, you always have water prepped, and you can conserve your water conditioner (all water going into the crab tank needs to be dechlorinated I believe). Good idea?

That's what we do, we keep it in an old soda bottle (well washed of course). That way we just dump the dish every day and add fresh water, so the salinity doesn't change.

And our dish is pretty small, it's one of those hermit crab swimming pool ornaments they sell, but our crabs are quite small so it's enough for them to submerge in right now.

Chrissy

Thanks. I think I will do that. Can I use aquarium salt? IT says its for freshwater fish and its all natural? Do you think that would work? Please let me know sorry for all this confusion

Is the salt from API? I dont think that would work cause its for fish diseases but I could be wrong.

Yes, the salt is from API. I was wondering if it would still work, please let me know. Thanks

well Im not sure, I have the same salt but I think its only for fish, wait for someone else's opinion cause Im not sure.

I think that salt would be fine, since it's as far as I know nothing but plain sodium chloride (table salt) with nothing added at all.

I would mix up a s/w dish. If you have a s/w tank, when you go to do a w/c just take some out of the amount you are adding to the tank and put in a dish for them. Ive never had the land type, only the type that stay in water.

Ralph and kuhli loach could you please not reply to old threads only reply if they are 2-3months old