Substrate

Proper substrate in your hermit crabs tank is crucial to allow successful molts to happen and to replicate their native environment.

Substrate in your hermit crab tanks should consist of a mix of 5:1 ratio of children's play sand to Eco Earth (coconut fiber), so the majority of your substrate should consist play sand. You can find 50 pound bags of play sand at your local hardware store for cheap. DO NOT use calcium sand.

Eco Earth comes in brick form or shredded in a bag. If you get the bricks, you will have to break the bricks up in primed water, and let it completely dry. Getting it in the bag will save you time, that step had already been done for you. 

Substrate should be minimum 6 inches deep, but aim for higher. 

Substrate should be sand castle consistency. So if you poke your finger in the substrate, the hole will hold its shape. This is important for molting, so when your hermit crab digs underground and makes tunnels, the tunnels will hold shape and not collapse around them and suffocate them. 

If your substrate isn't passing the "poke test", you can add a cup or two of primed water and mix it all in with the rest of substrate. Goal is to have sand castle consistency substrate- not too wet at all, but moist enough so tunnels hold shape! Start off with dry substrate and add the water if needed.

No need to ever re-do your substrate unless: 

• Flooding in tank 
• Bug problem 
• Fungal bloom outbreak
• Upgrading to a new tank