So your little crabs have been spoiled with all sorts of fish, fruits, and other things that like to rot and smell? Not to mention the fact your terrarium is warm and humid- which means that smell starts even faster. Keeping your crabitat clean prevents odors and keeps your little guys happy and healthy. So we've created a step-by-step tip sheet on how to clean your terrarium. You should repeat this process twice a month to keep your crabitat as clean as possible.
Photo credit to the Oregon Hermit Crab Rescue.
Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!
Step One: Move your crabbies to a 'play pen'. Your playpen should be a safe large bowl or terrarium that they can temporarily play in without climbing out or finding themselves in dangerous positions. Do not let your hermit crabs run unsupervised around your home! They move much faster than most people realize they do.
Step Two: Remove all plastic and glass decorations, food dishes, and plants. Take any plastic or glass objects and set them in boiling hot water for two minutes. Take any live plants and wipe them off with a damp cloth. Once your other objects have been pulled out of the boiling hot water wipe them down with a cloth as well to remove anything that may be contaminating them. Let them dry completely.
Step Three: Remove any other decoration objects from your crabitat. For cloth nets, pieces of driftwood, and coconut shells wipe with a cloth soaked in boiling hot water. Do not soak these objects in water! This can cause them to rot faster. After you have wiped them away set them in a cool airy place to dry completely.
Photo credit to the Oregon Hermit Crab Rescue.
Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!
Step One: Move your crabbies to a 'play pen'. Your playpen should be a safe large bowl or terrarium that they can temporarily play in without climbing out or finding themselves in dangerous positions. Do not let your hermit crabs run unsupervised around your home! They move much faster than most people realize they do.
Step Two: Remove all plastic and glass decorations, food dishes, and plants. Take any plastic or glass objects and set them in boiling hot water for two minutes. Take any live plants and wipe them off with a damp cloth. Once your other objects have been pulled out of the boiling hot water wipe them down with a cloth as well to remove anything that may be contaminating them. Let them dry completely.
Step Three: Remove any other decoration objects from your crabitat. For cloth nets, pieces of driftwood, and coconut shells wipe with a cloth soaked in boiling hot water. Do not soak these objects in water! This can cause them to rot faster. After you have wiped them away set them in a cool airy place to dry completely.
Step Four: Clean the sand. This may be the hardest part of cleaning your crabitat. First you should take a small scoop and take out any parts of your sand that seem to have lots of rotting materials. Those scoops of sands should be disposed of. Then remove the first layer of sand and dispose of it as well. Now grab a large oven-safe pan from your kitchen and put the remaining sand from your terrarium into the pan. Bake your sand in an oven at 250 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes (until it's completely dry). This will help sterilize the sand.
Step Five: Now it's time to clean the terrarium. Grab some cloth rags (the softer the better) and a tub of hot to warm water. You don't want the water to be boiling hot- just as warm as your hands can stand it. Then dampen a bit of rag and scrub down the inside of your terrarium. Remove any marks, stains, or things that just don't belong on the side of a clean terrarium. Once you've cleaned out the entire thing, wipe down again with a dry rag, This will help catch any last little things you may have missed with a damp cloth.
Step Six: Once your sand has cooled off, pour it back into the aquarium. And then redesign your crabitat. Changing up your crabitat and cleaning it twice a month will keep your pets active and lively. By switching ornaments around and adding new and different activities you give your crabs the chance to explore a new area. Keeping their lives full of exciting, clean, new things is a great way to keep your little friends happy and healthy for years to come.
Step Five: Now it's time to clean the terrarium. Grab some cloth rags (the softer the better) and a tub of hot to warm water. You don't want the water to be boiling hot- just as warm as your hands can stand it. Then dampen a bit of rag and scrub down the inside of your terrarium. Remove any marks, stains, or things that just don't belong on the side of a clean terrarium. Once you've cleaned out the entire thing, wipe down again with a dry rag, This will help catch any last little things you may have missed with a damp cloth.
Step Six: Once your sand has cooled off, pour it back into the aquarium. And then redesign your crabitat. Changing up your crabitat and cleaning it twice a month will keep your pets active and lively. By switching ornaments around and adding new and different activities you give your crabs the chance to explore a new area. Keeping their lives full of exciting, clean, new things is a great way to keep your little friends happy and healthy for years to come.