How to Clean a Hermit Crabs Aquarium in 4 Easy Stages

Hermit crabs are, in general, very clean creatures and they don't relish the thought of living in a dirty and untidy home, any more than you or I would. They do not need a lot of looking after but regular maintenance of their environment is very important for their well being. So if you have recently purchased your little crab, or crabs, and want to know how to clean a hermit crabs aquarium, then stick around as I am going to tell you how to do this in four easy stages.
Stage 1)
The first and obvious thing that you need to do, when learning how to clean your little crawly companion's home, is to remove the little fellas and put them into a storage box. When choosing a storage box you need to take a few points into consideration. Firstly it needs to be high sided and secondly, the sides need to be smooth. The reason for this is that your loveable little critters are excellent climbers and the last thing you want is to look into the box only to find that they have escaped. The best sort of box to use is a deep plastic Tupperware box.
Stage 2)
Once your little crabby companions are safely secured in their temporary home you can get down to the real nitty gritty of cleaning your crawling pet's habitat. First of all take out all the paraphernalia in the glass tank, such as toys, food and water bowls, spare shells, as well as other things that they use to explore and climb. Give everything a wash,rinse in warm water and dry with a clean cloth. Do not use soapy water as this may be harmful to the little crabby guys.
Stage 3)
Take a small scoop and remove all rubbish and debris that has collected in the glass tank like old bits of food and crab poop, as this will attract flies. This normally accumulates on the substrate (sand and gravel). If the sand level has dropped, then top up with fresh sand. When learning how to clean your crabby companion's glass home, you will find that a lot depends upon the numbers of crustacean crawlers that you have. More of these little guys equal more mess, so this stage may have to be done on a daily basis. It's really just a case of monitoring this process.
Stage 4)
If your tank is particularly dirty, it is advisable to take out all the substrate material. When the aquarium is empty take a mild warm water and vinegar solution in a fine mist spray bottle and spray the inside of the tank. This solution acts as a sanitizing agent and will kill all germs that are lurking on the inside of the tank. When you have finished spraying, wipe it with a clean cloth and then rinse with warm water. Again it is important not to use any soap! Dry again. Repeat this process on the outside of the aquarium. Once this is complete, add fresh substrate, put back all the paraphernalia, and finally place the little guys back into their nice clean home. There you have it. All you need to know about how to clean a hermit crabs aquarium!
As you can see, cleaning the aquarium is a relatively simple task but one that you must do on a regular basis. Knowing how to keep your little crabby companion's home sparkling will go a long way in making sure that your pets are cared for in the best possible way. They will be healthy, and above all content, thus giving you years of "crabby" pleasure.