Is Rust Poisonous to Hermit Crabs?
Rust is not considered poisonous, however...
Rust is not toxic, and is not considered to be poisonous. Rust is the result of a chemical reaction when iron or steel (an iron alloy) reacts to water and oxygen. This oxidation process causing rust, that pesky reddish substance that expands over time, corroding the metal underneath. This corrosion is accelerated up to 5 times normal speed when exposed to saltwater and ocean air (which contains lots of salt and moisture).
However… did you know? MOST METALS DO NOT RUST!
Most people use “RUST” as a catch-all word to describe all metal corrosion.
Fact: NOT ALL METAL CORROSION IS “RUST”
Most Metals DO Corrode
Most metals are susceptible to corrosion when exposed to water and oxygen, and even more so when exposed to saltwater (and ocean air, which contains high levels of salt).
Most metals have varying degrees of susceptibility to corrosion; some corrode quickly, some very slowly. But most metals don’t “rust”, as in that reddish corrosive substance commonly found on old anchors, bottle caps and patio furniture.
And many metals are considered toxic when high levels accumulate in the body.
3 Important "RUST" Facts
- “RUST” is corrosion specific to iron and iron alloy metals
- “RUST” is most often used as a catch-all term to describe all corrosion on metals (but not technically accurate)
- All metals are susceptible to corrosion in varying degrees
What Metals DO Rust?
- iron
- steel (an iron alloy)
- cast iron
What Metals DO NOT Rust?
- stainless steel
- aluminum
- brass
- bronze
- copper
- gold
- silver
- platinum
- zinc
Stainless steel is a corrosion-resistant metal that is often used in the construction of heat lamps and other aquarium equipment.
Brass is a corrosion-resistant metal that is often used in the construction of aquarium equipment due to its durability.
How Does RUST Affect Hermit Crabs
Hermit crabs, in the wild, live along ocean shorelines where washed up bottle caps and cans, fishing hooks, boat parts and other ocean trash wash onto the shoreline. And anything with iron in it, is going to get rusty!
If you live right on the coast or ever visit the Florida Keys or islands in the Caribbean where there are hermit crabs in the wild, you’ll see them investigating beach trash! They are very curious creatures and love inspecting, crawling into, climbing over… everything! It’s not uncommon to see a hermit crab sitting inside a rusty can or on top of a rusty bottle cap. It’s unfortunate that there’s often ocean trash washed up along the shore. But it’s good that rust in and of itself, does not poison hermit crabs.
Are any rusty pieces of trash found along beaches and shoreline toxic and poisonous for hermit crabs?
Rust is not poisonous in and of itself, and is not considered to be harmful to hermit crabs (or humans), or toxic.
IRON ITSELF can actually be what’s harmful! Here are ways rust could potentially affect hermit crabs:
- rust itself can flake and cake, or be more like rust dust; this can potentially be an irritant to a tiny little hermit crab body if any gets inside their shell
- too much rust in a very small enclosed space (like a small iron or steel can) could potentially deplete the oxygen levels inside
- rust indicates corroding iron or steel underneath, which can cause instability, breakage, splintering, sharp edges
- rust indicates the metal “iron”, which is the part that is a heavy metal and toxic when leached into water or food sources (very low doses of iron are an essential element needed for body function, but very high doses are toxic)
While these scenarios would be uncommon and unlikely to be dangerous to hermit crabs in the wild, it’s important to consider all possibilities when creating a safe enclosed habitat for them.
The Bottom Line
– Limit metals and man-made materials in any animal habitat
– Hermit crabs are tiny and fragile and very susceptible to toxins
– Do not use metal for water and food bowls.
– Limit metals inside the habitat when possible
– Remove, replace anything with metal shows signs of corrosion
– Use aquarium-safe and pet-friendly products made within the pet industry
– Use distilled or detoxified water, and/or test water for heavy metals and toxins
For more ideas on creating stimulating healthy crabitats, click here.
For more information on rust and hermit crabs, click here.
Last update on 2024-05-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API