Things You'll Need
Clean plastic bucket
1 gallon tap water
Aquarium tap water conditioner
Ocean salt from a pet store
Mixing spoon
Hermit crabs may be used for the cleaning of saltwater aquariums or as pets. They are adaptable creatures but require saltwater in order to remain healthy. Hermit crabs use the same salinity of saltwater as saltwater fish. This can be purchased or made at home using ocean salt from a pet store. Table salt is not an acceptable alternative to maintain your hermit crab's health.
Pour the tap water into the mixing bucket. To this water add the aquarium conditioner. This isolates the chlorine and chloramine in the tap water making it safe for use in your aquarium.
Pour exactly 1/2 cup sea salt into the water and mix it thoroughly. The water will remain cloudy for a while until all the sea salt dissolves.
Allow the water to reach room temperature before adding it to your aquarium. This will also give the aquarium water conditioner time to remove the last of the chemicals in the tap water which would be harmful to your hermit crab. After two to three hours, when the water has reached room temperature, it can be poured into the aquarium.
Tips
Premixed salt water can be purchased from specialty fish stores which does not need to be treated before use in your aquarium.
Warnings
Avoid adding plain tap water to your aquarium. Treated tap water is much safer for hermit crabs and fish.
References
- Hermit Crabs; Care
- "Hermit Crabs For Dummies"; Kelli Wilkins; 2007
Photo Credits
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Jeffrey Hamilton/Lifesize/Getty Images
Writer Bio
Don Kress began writing professionally in 2006, specializing in automotive technology for various websites. An Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technician since 2003, he has worked as a painter and currently owns his own automotive service business in Georgia. Kress attended the University of Akron, Ohio, earning an associate degree in business management in 2000.
