Is softened well water safe for hermit crabs? Do I need conditioner?

Hermit crabs need two types of water. Fresh and saltwater. Hermit crabs also cannot drink tap water. This water is treated with chlorine which can cause permanent blisters on the crabs gills (yes they have gills) which will be very painful for the hermit crabs. For this reason all water (including drinking and misting water) must be unchlorinated. Buy a small bottle of tap water conditioner in the fish section of your pet store. Follow the instructions for making a gallon of water. It's a lot easier to have a batch of water ready to use for the next few weeks or so rather than having to make a small amount every day. When choosing a conditioner, do not purchase "Stress Coat" as this is used strictly for bathing your crabs and keeping fish only. Look for a conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramine and neutralizes heavy metals. Do not get a conditioner that stimulates a slime coat, other than for baths. After that, you have a batch of freshwater. Now simply make another batch of water and add some aquarium salt into the mix. Usually about 8-10 tablespoons of salt is enough. You may hear that only exotic species of hermit crabs need salt water, but this isn't true. All hermit crabs including the purple pincer (Coenobita clypeatus) need this. Many crabs drink saline water for hours prior to molting. And their shell water supply has a specific balance of iron. Providing salt water allows the hermit crab to choose what kind of water it would like to drink. Let the water sit overnight, so it comes to room temperature and the salt dissolves.

Water softeners leave very little salt residue in the treated water. Most, not all, fish *should* do fine in softened water. Make sure you get species that does better in soft water. Use a hardness kit and monitor KH. This parameter is what can affect pH. You can set aside a gallon or two and test it after it has aged for 24-48 hours to confirm it is safe to use. Check the softener unit for a bypass valve. Some units will have one or you can get one installed. Taps/faucets outside may not be in line with the softener, so you can use water from there if necessary.

Water treated with water softener is usually safe for cats and dogs to drink. However, softened water isn't recommended for pets that have a restricted or sodium-free diet. If you are not sure whether you want to use your softened water, you can use bottled water for your cat to drink.

Hi I don't recommend using distilled water in your tank as the "osmolarity" of the water can cause problems for your fish. Either pick up a bottle of water conditioner from a pet store or draw a large bucket of tap water and let it sit for 4 or 5 days. Some of the chemicals will evaporate out when left to sit, but it's not such an ideal option.

Do not use plain aquarium salt or table salt. To make brackish water, you need marine salt. You will also need a hydrometer to measure specific gravity. A hydrometer can be found in the aquarium section of most pet stores They cost $15 or less. Depending on the species of fish you have, brackish water will need a SG between 1.005 and 1.010. One tablespoon of marine salt per gallon of water will create brackish water at the lower end of the SG range. Yes, you will need a conditioner to remove chlorine and chloramine before you add the marine salt.

Not usually. If you have hard water, you can use a water conditioner or softener for water to use for water changes. A chunk of driftwood can also help soften the water if you don't mind a bit of discoloration. Use a soft bristled toothbrush to scrub off deposits.

Creek water would not be recommended as you would likely need to heat it and the risk of waterborne pathogens (even in fast moving water) would be greatly increased. Ordinary tap water can be "aged" by leaving it out in a wide mouthed container for 24-48 hours prior to use. A water conditioner would still be recommended to minimize stress after water changes.