Hermit crab play sand?

Question

I bought a bag of play sand at Home depot for my hermit crabs. However, I felt in secured and unsafe for the hermies. I tossed it out instead of returning because I cut opened and decided not to put sand into hermies habitat. I feel that this play sand is not safe which contained silicone--toxic ingredient as listed in quikrete.com http://www.quikrete.com/PDFs/MSDS-B4-Playsand.pdf Anyone here knows where to buy natural sand with no artificial ingredient for hermies. I could get natural sand from the beach, but it will take me 45 min to drive.

Answer 1

I hate to tell you, but the bad ingredient is a silicon (no e at the end), not a silicone.  And that silicon is the SAND ITSELF.  Sand is also called silica and is also called quartz.  No matter the form, if you breath in respirable size sand, it is listed as a carcinogen.  Now the exposure you need is that found with sandblasters and similar professions.  Going to the beach is not covered, but for example beach sand reclamation projects may require protection if too much dry sand is blown in the air.

Your hermits will not care which kind you provide for them.  They aren't going to be exposed to the problem size particles.  Save your 45 minutes.  In fact, the sand you bought is probably cleaner than that found at the beach.  It will not have the bacteria and other critters in it.

Answer 2

well i live in tasmania (australia) so for my two hermit crabs we went to home timber and landscaping. There they have rocks, pebbles, sand (different varieties) dirt and lots more if u look uuphat name on google they might have a simular place where you live too! hope this helps!

Answer 3

If you want the best for your hermies I would drive that 45 minutes and make a day out of it.

You could also try pool filter sand.