Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2010 12:44:03 GMT -5
Out of idle curiosity I buried some polished shells in 100% coco-fiber to see what would happen in terms of the finish. As some may recall there has been off and on descriptions of what may or may not be part of shells losing their luster. Coco-fiber is slightly acidic, and acid will etch shells. For those of the seeing is believing POV, try putting a shell in vinegar.
Well, the shells buried in moist coir certainly dulled faster than the shells on the crabs in 5:1 sand:coir. Shells in just sand were completely unfazed. Granted the shells in the sand alone were not being moved about so as to abrade their surface. I had them buried for about 6 weeks or so.
Now I will also mention that I have mixed a small amount of crushed oyster shell in with my substrate, and this may temper the pH a bit. If you don't I cannot speak to what will happen.
Will this slight acidity affect the crabs themselves? I don't know, but it sure does take the shine off a shell. And I would remind people that one does not need to be dissolved to have ones physiology disrupted over time and that a hermit crabs shell has a significant component of Calcium. If one were to submit a crustacean for necropsy, the 2006 Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals calls for Davidson's AFA Fixative which is a mixture of Formalin, Alcohol and Acetic Acid (found in vinegar) because this will "reduce autolytic changes in tropical crustaceans and the acidic content decalcifies the cuticle.
I know crabs can molt in 100% Coir, the question is not can they, but can they do so consistently and under most peoples tank conditions. Or is there a substrate or mix of substrates that gives them a statistically significant higher chance of a healthy molt for the typical crabber. Without doing a whacking huge study over a long period of time I can't answer that from personal experience . . . but there does seem to be a few things that are less than ideal about 100% Coir.
In other words, just because something works for one person, or a few people, in their limited experience, does not mean that the same technique will work for everyone, or even anyone else.
Keith
Well, the shells buried in moist coir certainly dulled faster than the shells on the crabs in 5:1 sand:coir. Shells in just sand were completely unfazed. Granted the shells in the sand alone were not being moved about so as to abrade their surface. I had them buried for about 6 weeks or so.
Now I will also mention that I have mixed a small amount of crushed oyster shell in with my substrate, and this may temper the pH a bit. If you don't I cannot speak to what will happen.
Will this slight acidity affect the crabs themselves? I don't know, but it sure does take the shine off a shell. And I would remind people that one does not need to be dissolved to have ones physiology disrupted over time and that a hermit crabs shell has a significant component of Calcium. If one were to submit a crustacean for necropsy, the 2006 Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals calls for Davidson's AFA Fixative which is a mixture of Formalin, Alcohol and Acetic Acid (found in vinegar) because this will "reduce autolytic changes in tropical crustaceans and the acidic content decalcifies the cuticle.
I know crabs can molt in 100% Coir, the question is not can they, but can they do so consistently and under most peoples tank conditions. Or is there a substrate or mix of substrates that gives them a statistically significant higher chance of a healthy molt for the typical crabber. Without doing a whacking huge study over a long period of time I can't answer that from personal experience . . . but there does seem to be a few things that are less than ideal about 100% Coir.
In other words, just because something works for one person, or a few people, in their limited experience, does not mean that the same technique will work for everyone, or even anyone else.
Keith