I have tried both and prefer the Sand Shark. It is only a little more than the Small World once you factor in the air pump you need for the Small World, is much quieter, and circulates water better, creating a sort of wave motion effect.
Other brands that offer similar filters are Fluval, Duetto and ZooMed. The most common application for these is in semi aquatic terrariums for turtles, frogs and other semi aquatic creatures, and most have an adjustable flow rate, making it possible to use them in relatively small basins.
To find appropriate sized basins, measure your habitat and come up with a reasonable size that will fit and allow for at least partial, if not full submersion. Then visit your local pet store and look for that size dish, or visit the tupperware isle at a local department store and measure the dishes until you find some of appropriate size.
One point to note if you switch to a filtered basin, is that you will lose some water through evaporation and will likely have to replace some every few days. Take care to monitor the salinity level of the water to keep it within an acceptable range for seawter generally considered 1. I usually add fresh or brackish water to replace evaporative losses so as not to increase the overall salinity. Maintenance can be an issue if you cannot filter; however, since most crabbers change their water daily, it is not a big deal to change water in a larger dish every day if you have to go up in size.
One problem to overcome is how does one recoup lost land surface area in their crabitat if they have to add larger basins to accommodate passive bathing? My answer was to landscape the terrarium so that there is a high level of substrate at one end, molded over makeshift caves and leveled off. What you wind up with is a natural second level, and more surface area by way of the caves buried underneath.
I believe this can be accomplished with the smallest of crabitats and will be happy to assist anyone with suggetions on how to do this in their size tank. Here is a link to some photos that will show some ideas for caves. Note the photo near the bottom of the second link showing my C. As a matter of fairness, active bathing may be acceptable if one cannot provide for passive bathing for the crabs in their habitat.
If active bathing is deemed necessary, care should be taken to minimize the overall disturbance the crabs experience. There is a chart in the Greenaway article referenced above that shows the relative salinity levels for each species page 17, table 3. In closing, every crabber who actively bathes their crabs should ask themselves the following questions:.
Are they exposed almost every day to Stress Coat water and the chemicals in it as a result of my bathing because it is left in their shell water between baths? We know crabs ingest their shell water from time to time, they will also absorb chemicals through their skin. Also, if they readjust by submerging in their drinking water, the Stress Coat chemicals are likely to wind up there as well.
How much and how often do they actually drink when left to their own devices? Are they getting a bulk of their weekly drinking water intake done at bathing time, causing them to ingest Stress Coat and its chemicals on a regular basis? What is the potential long term effect of wide swings in salinity levels caused by once or twice weekly bathing? What is the long term effect on the bodies of hermit crabs of constantly having to readjust their levels— not minor adjustments that occur through their own natural bathing and drinking behaviors, but major adjustments necessitated by shell water constantly being hyposmotic to blood levels due to frequent bathing?
Give yourself honest answers to these questions. We have the responsibility to care for these animals to the best of our ability. This should include simulating their natural environment and giving them the facilities they need to properly care for their own needs in as natural a manner as possible. You must be logged in to post a comment. Should we change our minds about bathing Hermit Crabs?
Stacy Spangler of www. You must be logged in to post a comment. Bathing your Land hermit Crab. Originally written by Vanessa Pike-Russell It is important that your land hermit crabs are able to bathe themselves. Bathing after purchase I do not use the submersion method unless I believe there is a reason, such as decomposing foodstuffs crabs sometimes hoard food in their shell or mites.
If one of your crabs exhibits this behavior, I strongly suggest you discontinue bathing it in this manner. Camp Two: Actively bathing their hermit crabs by placing them in a shallow dish of water to wade around. Some use stress coat treated water. Camp Three: Inactively bath their hermit crabs by not really bathing them at all. Offering at all times shallow pools of fresh water and salt water so the crabs can wade in and bathe themselves when they choose to.
No stress coat should be added to drinking water. My personal opinion is that you should not forcibly bathe your hermit crabs or use stress coat.
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