Cuttlebone question

[jrox72]

I just got some and put the whole thing in the tank, like a surfboard on it's side in the sand. Is this ok? or should i break it up into little pieces? Just wondering

[CrabbyJo]

It's fine, they'll munch on it where it lays. They may also break pieces off and drag them all over the tank, too.

I personally like to break a chunk off and grind it to a powder to sprinkle on their food occasionally, just in case they aren't munching on the big pieces.

[jrox72]

Nice, thank you !

[Jedi_Sena]

There is nothing wrong with adding the whole cuttle bone at once, but if it is laying on the damp substrate, then it is going to get really stinky! I usually put a broken chunk of it in the same dish or basket where I keep their extra shells.

[harleyucollins]

I was reading somewhere and ran across something I didn't know, so I figured I'd ask. I read that you have to put the cuttlebone in the hermit crabs water? Do you necessarily have to do this?

[ladybug15057]

I'm not sure where this was read but I haven't heard of serving it that way? I have heard of putting pieces or a whole cuttlebone in the tank, and/or grinding it up into a powder form.

[CrabbyJo]

I've never heard of that either.

I have a chunk (small one) that lays on the substrate. I will replace it when it gets small. A cuttle bone can last more than a year.

[emmac350]

I would think that putting it in the water wouldn't be ideal. Crabs eat what they need nutritionally when they need it. They wouldn't know to look for calcium in water - water in their experience has never been a calcium source, so why should they look for it there? I'd imagine that the chalky nature of the cuttlebone would end up making the water slimy too, which wouldn't be good.

[harleyucollins]

haha, ok thanks. I forget where I read it at, but I figured I'd ask here to see if it was true.

[Wai]

I have the piece of cuttlebone laying on the sand near their favourite spot (near the ceramic heater).