Is zoo med a good brand?

[emmac350]

Stevo - see if your pet store carries API dechlorinator; that's one of the brands that people do recommend for hermit crabs.

As for the sea salt, most 'pure sea salts' still have anti-caking agents in them to keep the salt from seizing up in humid weather. Another thing to consider is what form the iodine they would be adding is in. Not all forms of various elements (like iodine) are equal, and some are more dangerous than others.

One other thing about that salt - who knows what kind of amounts you would have to add in order to reach the right salinity level? And some sea salts are refined to remove some of the trace elements that people don't like the taste of. So a sea salt intended for human consumption has a few problems with its use with crabs.

[Sterwick]

Oh, should've made myself clearer.

By 'pure seasalt', I meant seasalt sold for fish tanks, the brand is 'tropic marin seasalt' which is on the CSJ's safe salts list, but thanks for helping.

I'll see if there's any API.

Thanks, Stevo.

[hermie_lover3542]

In previous threads, I noticed people saying that the salt made for hermit crabs is not healthy for them, such as ''zoomed hermit crab salt'', or ''HBH'' salt. What is in the salt made for hermit crabs that is claimed to be toxic? Isn't it pretty much the same as aquarium salt? I was just wondering about this. Thankyou.

[CrabbyJo]

It's not toxic, it just does not provide the nutrients that hermit crabs need, and is a waste of money.

When tested, the hermit crab salts registered no salinity whatsoever, leading me to believe it is very similar to aquarium salt that is meant for fresh water aquariums.
What hermit crabs need is ocean salt meant for salt water aquariums. It provides electrolytes and minerals that are essential for hermit crab health.

For more information, you can visit this article: A look at Salt Products

Be sure and click the link at the bottom that says Ocean Mixes when you have read the article.

[Sterwick]

It's not toxic, it just does not provide the nutrients that hermit crabs need, and is a waste of money.

I have heard salts like zoo med are harmful because of the anti-caking agents, but yeah, even if they were safe they're useless.

Stevo - see if your pet store carries API dechlorinator; that's one of the brands that people do recommend for hermit crabs.

I have some API dechlorinator now. It's very powerful mind so I store the water in a washed-out 2 litre bottle. I only have to use 1 drop so it's going to last me a very long time- that's if I'm very careful anyway!!