One of the most underutilized crabitat items today is natural moss. Often a pet store employee will send a new crab owner home with a water dish and a sponge and never once mention the possibility of using moss, even though they could milk that person for another eight dollars for the Fluker's terrarium moss!

Moss is one of the cheapest and most versatile item you could get for your crabitat. On top of that, it's easy to find and can be stored almost indefinitely.

Here's a list of just some of the things that you can use moss for. If you have new ideas I haven't thought of, please post them in the comments and I'll add them to this post.

• Use moss instead of a sponge to keep the humidity stable, remist when dry, no need for daily sterilization.
• Use moss to place your shells on to keep the substrate from filling up your shells
• Mix moss into your substrate to create a diverse ground cover that helps retain moisture and adds structural integrity to tunnel digging
• Create a "moss pit" on a hammock or in a container, it will be a favorite hang out for your crabs.
• Drape moss over driftwood, and around the bases of artificial plants to create an authentic look
• As it decays, crabbies will use it for a snack, they love digging in it

There are several places that you can get your moss. Pet stores almost always carry moss. The most common kind of moss that you can find there is Fluker's Terrarium Moss. However, you aren't limited to pet centered products. You can find moss at your local hobby store or the hobby section of your local Wal-mart. You can collect it from the wild, you can even purchase live moss for them to enjoy.

However, as you get ready to purchase moss there are some things you need to keep in mind. Avoid dyed moss. Dyed moss is easy to detect because it is an unnatural green color. It often smells a bit like paint (when in doubt I often make a small hole in the bag at the store and take a sniff, although this WILL get you strange looks). It may also have a warning on the bag that the moss is not for human or animal consumption.

The variety of moss is also important. I have had good luck with terrarium moss, hiawatha moss and sheet moss. I've never found reindeer moss that was not dyed and spanish moss is treated with harmful pesticides.

I've purchased live moss off of the internet and it is great as a special treat but can be costly and hard to find. It does not live more than a few weeks although the crabs will eat it alive and after it dies.

If you are interested in collecting your own moss you must be very careful where it comes from. Parks and recreation areas routinely spray fertilizers and pesticides. Collect from your own yard or someone else's property with permission. Then prepare as instructed below.
PREPARATION
 Grab a quart size or larger glass bowl. Place a large handful of moss into the bowl and then fill halfway with prepared salt water. (The kind you give your hermit crabs to drink.) Push down top moss until it's all wet. Microwave for one minute. This will kill any seeds or bugs or eggs that have been hitchhiking on your moss. Take the moss out of the microwave and let cool. Gently squeeze off the excess water and place in your crabitat wherever you want it! Once it turns from green to brown, remove (check for hiding crabs) and then replace.

In your natural crabitat moss can be a powerful and versatile (and inexpensive) element in creating a healthy and diverse environment for your crabs to explore. Do you have other ways to use moss? Let me know! I'm always looking for new ways to improve MY setup as well.