Hi,
I have been advised by someone who thinks they know a lot about hermit crabs that metals are not toxic to them.
Would anyone have any research papers I could check out regarding this?
Thanks,
Aimee
Metals?
- Wai
- Administrator
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Re: Metals?
I'm not sure about land hermit crabs, but as a student pharmacist, I know any metal is capable of inducing toxicity at high levels in humans. It is unknown what the toxicity threshold for each metal is for land hermit crabs.
There are very few research papers on land hermit crabs. Most studies I have read only discuss their behaviour in the wild, relationship with other animals and their normal physiology. Data on what is beneficial or harmful to land hermit crabs is very lacking. No-one out there should be claiming that they "know a lot" about hermit crabs since there are no published research papers about keeping land hermit crabs as pets. All we can say is that we may have more experience compared to newer crabbers.
There are very few research papers on land hermit crabs. Most studies I have read only discuss their behaviour in the wild, relationship with other animals and their normal physiology. Data on what is beneficial or harmful to land hermit crabs is very lacking. No-one out there should be claiming that they "know a lot" about hermit crabs since there are no published research papers about keeping land hermit crabs as pets. All we can say is that we may have more experience compared to newer crabbers.
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- Zygote
- Posts: 3
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Re: Metals?
OK, thanks You're right, there is very little published research about it, so I'm glad for this forum which has some more experienced crabbers. Will keep my eye out for any publications.
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- Coenobita
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- Location: Alaska
Re: Metals?
I agree with Wai. You said this person "thinks they know a lot about hermit crabs" so if they aren't a scientist and don't have some sort of solid reason for stating this, I'd just take it as hearsay and err on the side of caution. Copper DOES kill marine hermit crabs, I know this from reading a bit on some reef forums. So it stands to reason that our land hermit crabs may have a similar sensitivity.
6 hermit crabs - 3 PPs and 3 Equadorians
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- babesbarn
- Zoea III
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Re: Metals?
I have had a bird cage metal climbing apartatus in the tank since summer and the crabbies are quite alright. It is not copper and black covered. And I check it all the time and it is not rusting and they "love" to hang on it. I got the idea from a store when I looked at the back of a hermit crab tank and they used plastic covered wire fencing. I use to raise parakeets and cocketeils and know that they chew the heck out of stuff and it is safe for them if you put a bird cage type climbing thing inside. Not the wood but the metal that is covered and not painted. JMO