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how to clean a hermit crab tank

Best Way To Clean A Hermit Crab Tank (Spot + Deep Cleaning)

Last Updated on October 15, 2023 by Joanne Harper

A hermit crab tank should be spot-cleaned daily, removing all fecal waste, decaying wood, and uneaten food. A more thorough clean should occur weekly, with a deep clean every 6-8 weeks.

The tank should be deep-cleaned once every 4 weeks if you have a large colony of hermit crabs.

Deep clean the tank with a mild bleach solution to sterilize it, diluting 1 part bleach with 9 parts water. Alternatively, you can clean the tank with vinegar or a biodegradable cleaning product.

Then, rinse the tank with water and let it dry in the sun for 24+ hours until it’s scent-free.

Do You Need to Clean a Hermit Crab Tank?

Cleaning a hermit crab tank is a non-negotiable part of pet ownership. If you don’t keep a hermit crab tank clean, filth will accumulate. Consequently, bacteria, mold, and other pathogens will form.

Dirty habitats attract parasites and pests. The Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology explains how 149 different parasites can live in a hermit crab enclosure.

Spot cleaning should be conducted daily. Assess the surface layer, removing fecal matter or uneaten food. You may skip a day’s spot cleaning but try not to let two days pass.

While conducting a spot clean, make a more detailed assessment of the tank. Check for warning signs of mold growing on the walls or ceiling. Most molds are harmless, but others are toxic.

More extensive cleaning should take place at least once a week. During this time, rake the substrate, clean any food bowls, change bathing and drinking water, and wipe down the walls.

Deep cleaning takes over a day, so the hermit crabs must be temporarily rehomed. This can be stressful, but it remains necessary. Deep-clean the enclosure monthly if you have 10+ pet hermit crabs.

how often do you need to clean a hermit crab tank?

How To Properly Clean A Hermit Crab Tank

To minimize disruption, always line up everything you need before getting started.

Here’s a checklist of what you’ll need before deep cleaning a hermit crab tank:

  • A spare tank, fully equipped and ready to house hermit crabs.
  • New substrate (sand) that’s clean and ready to use.
  • A cleaning agent and cloth for sterilizing the walls, floor, and ceiling.
  • Access to water and an oven to clean decor like rocks and logs.

Allow at least one morning for cleaning and 24+ hours for the tank to dry afterward.

What Can I Use To Clean A Hermit Crab Tank?

Bleach is recommended for thoroughly cleaning a hermit crab tank. The Journal of Crustacean Biology stated that bleach kills toxic mold and prevents harmful bacteria from multiplying.

Bleach is caustic and toxic, so remove the hermit crabs from their tank before cleaning. If you’ve applied bleach to the enclosure walls, rewash them afterward to remove all traces.

Vinegar is suitable for cleaning a hermit crab tank if you want a natural alternative. However, it isn’t as effective. You can also use a biodegradable cleaner or surface wipe.

The hermit crab tank must be air-dried before returning its inhabitants, regardless of whether you use bleach, vinegar, or biodegradable cleaner. No lingering odors must remain in the tank.

Instructions for Deep Cleaning A Hermit Crab Tank

You can deep clean a tank any time unless the habitat contains a molting hermit crab, which shouldn’t be disturbed under any circumstances.

Perform more spot cleaning and frequently wipe down the walls and ceiling until the molt is complete.

Follow these steps once you’re ready to start deep cleaning the hermit crab tank:

Temporarily Rehome Hermit Crabs

If you have hermit crabs, you need a second enclosure to keep them during cleaning. This tank can also quarantine sick hermit crabs, provide privacy during a molt, or separate aggressors.

The hermit crabs will only live in this second tank for about 24 hours, which means the enclosure won’t need all the accessories of a primary habitat. It still needs essentials, including:

Move the hermit crabs before starting cleaning. Wait for them to wake up to avoid disturbances.

Empty The Tank

Before deep cleaning a hermit crab tank, remove everything, including the sand, decorations, toys, and spare shells. The enclosure must be completely bare.

Used substrate should be thrown away and replaced entirely.

Inspect all dishes, toys, and decorations for damage. Set them to one side for cleaning if they’re in perfect condition. If they’re cracked or broken, throw them away and replace them.

Clean And Dry The Tank

Thoroughly clean the tank using a solution of bleach and water (1:9 ratio). Then, wash off the bleach and sponge down the walls, wiping away all traces of chemicals.

Once the cleaning process is concluded, the tank must be given time to dry. You can start the process with a hairdryer, but the enclosure must air dry for at least 24 hours.

Weather permitting, leave the tank outside and open throughout this period.

what do you use to clean a hermit crab tank?

Clean Decorations

Decorations, like rocks and logs, should be cleaned.

Run hot water and wipe the enclosure’s rocks, plastic plants, and climbing frames. Add some antibacterial cleaner if you can, rinsing it off afterward.

Spare shells should be boiled in water for 15-20 minutes to kill bacteria, mold, and parasites (like mites) that have crawled into the shells. Anything you wash can be left to air dry along with the tank.

Substrate Replacement

Once the tank is completely dry, you can add a new substrate. If the hermit crabs are used to living in sand, offer more of the same. Provide about 6 inches (3 to 4 times their shell size) of substrate.

Quikrete all-purpose sand is pre-cleaned and can be applied straight to a hermit crab tank.

Bagged playground sand is also suitable, but washing and boiling it for 20 minutes at 200°F is advisable to remove any lingering mold and bacteria.

Put The Hermit Crabs Back in The Tank

Once the tank is dry and new substrate has been added, you can repopulate the habitat with decorations and return the hermit crabs to their primary home.

Consider changing the layout to make life enjoyable for the hermit crabs.

Don’t disturb or move hermit crabs while asleep during the day. Lay down food at dusk and move them to the secondary tank once they’ve finished eating. Then, you can commence the cleaning process.