| How to Play With Your Hermit Crab Posted: 07 Oct 2018 01:00 AM PDT Hermit crabs are naturally playful creatures, but you cannot play with them in the same way as you might play with a kitten. Instead, make sure that your hermit crab has everything it needs to thrive and encourage it to explore and play on its own. You can do this by providing necessary enrichment items for your crab and ensuring that your hermit crab is safe when you let it roam outside of its enclosure. EditCreating a Play-Friendly Environment - Get a tank for 2 medium-sized hermit crabs. Your hermit crab's tank should be at least if the crabs are medium-sized. However, if you just have a couple of very small crabs, then you can start with a tank and upgrade as the crabs grow. This size tank will ensure that the crabs have plenty of room to play.[1]
- A solid glass or plastic tank is essential for keeping moisture in and maintaining a humid environment. Never try to keep hermit crabs in a wire cage.
- Fill the bottom of the enclosure with of sand.[2] Hermit crabs love to burrow and dig, so provide a thick bed of sand. This will help to ensure that your hermit crab has plenty of room to dig and play in the sand.[3]
- Coconut fiber is an acceptable substitute for sand, or you could even use a 50-50 mixture of coconut fiber and sand.
- Make sure that the sand is dry and clean. You can purchase sand at a pet supply store, use hardware store sand, or get sand at the beach.
- Place 2 shallow dishes of de-chlorinated water in the enclosure. Hermit crabs need to be able to soak in water, so get 2 dishes that are large enough for your hermit crab to get into. Fill them up with enough water to reach the hermit crab's shell. If the dishes have high sides, you can submerge them in the sand and place a layer rocks into the bottom of the dishes to make it easier for your hermit crab to get in and out of them. Keep 1 dish filled with fresh water and the other 1 with salt water.[4]
- Dechlorinated water is essential because chlorinated water can harm the crabs. You can dechlorinate the water using a dechlorinating device available at pet stores.
- Purchase salt water from an aquarium store. Avoid putting table salt in the water, as it is poisonous to hermit crabs.
- Scatter your hermit crab's food around its enclosure for stimulation. Instead of placing your hermit crab's food in the same place day after day, you might consider scattering it around so that the crab has to forage for it. This can be a fun game for your hermit crab! Sprinkle the food around the enclosure at random. You could even place some up on a branch or rock so your hermit crab has to climb to get it.
- Hermit crabs can eat a variety of veggies, fruits, nuts, and grains, and you can scatter any of these foods around the enclosure.[5]
- Clean your hermit crab's enclosure daily. Scoop out droppings and any uneaten food daily to ensure that your hermit crab's environment stays clean. This will make it easier for your hermit crab to roam and play in the enclosure without encountering any waste or rotten food.[6]
EditAdding Enrichment Items to Your Hermit Crab's Habitat - Place hiding spaces throughout the enclosure to provide safe spaces. Hermit crabs like to retreat to dark, enclosed areas sometimes. This makes them feel safe and allows them to relax. To ensure that your hermit crab will be able to retreat when it needs a break from playtime, put several hiding spots in the enclosure. Some examples of enclosures include:[7]
- Small boxes with holes cut in 1 or 2 sides of them.
- Empty flower pots turned on their sides.[8]
- Hollowed out logs or rocks (available in pet stores).
- Ceramic castles and other types of manmade hiding spots sold at pet stores.
- Lean a piece of driftwood against the side of the enclosure for climbing. Hermit crabs like to climb, so make sure to include 1 or more driftwood branches. You can get a driftwood branch by searching around on a beach or you can purchase a driftwood branch from a pet supply store.[9]
- Driftwood is a great option since hermit crabs usually live by the sea.[10]
- Pet stores also carry fake driftwood branches for use in hermit crab enclosures.
- House your hermit crab with 1 or more other hermit crabs for company. Hermit crabs are social creatures, even though their names indicate they prefer to be alone. If possible, keep hermit crabs in pairs or in groups. If you only have 1 hermit crab, consider getting another 1 to keep it company.
- After getting a new hermit crab, make sure to keep it separate from your other crabs for 1 week to make sure it is healthy.[11]
- Provide several different sized shells to allow your hermit crab to grow. A hermit crab needs to move into a larger shell whenever it outgrows its current shell. Make sure that you provide your hermit crab with other shell options for when it has outgrown 1 shell.[12]
- It is also important to provide lots of shell options to prevent your hermit crabs from fighting.
EditHandling Your Hermit Crab - Pick up your hermit crab by the shell. To give your hermit crab time outside of its enclosure, you will need to pick it up and place it somewhere safe. Grasp your hermit crab firmly around its shell when you pick it up. Do not grasp its body because it is likely to pinch you and you may also injure it in the process.[13]
- Keep in mind that it is best not to handle your hermit crab too often. They do not like to be touched.
- Place the hermit crab on the ground gently. Never place a hermit crab on a table or chair when you want to let it roam. Your hermit crab's vision is not as good as yours, so it might not be able to tell where the surface of a table or other surface ends. This could lead to your hermit crab falling and getting injured.[14]
- Supervise your hermit crab while it roams and explores. To keep your hermit crab safe, make sure that you keep a close eye on it the entire time it is out of its enclosure. Prevent it from crawling into tight spaces, falling down stairs, or getting into other dangerous situations.
- If you are in your bedroom, close the door to help keep your hermit crab contained.
- Your hermit crab will need to eat, drink, sleep, and defecate at some point, so don't keep it out for more than 1 hour.
- Don't remove your hermit crab from its shell or pull on its limbs. Never pull your hermit crab out of its shell and never pull it away from something it is clinging to. This may cause the hermit crab to lose 1 or more of its limbs. Even though the hermit crab's limbs may grow back, it may be too injured to survive.[15]
- Having a couple of dishes of water in your hermit crab's enclosure will also help to keep the humidity at the proper level. The ideal humidity in your crab's enclosure should be no lower than 70% at all times.
- Never paint a hermit crab's shell. This may look neat to you, but the chemicals in the paint can kill your hermit crab.
- Keep your fingers clear of your hermit crab's pincers. Even if your hermit crab is comfortable with you, it may still pinch you if it gets frightened.
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| How to Wash a Chest Binder Posted: 06 Oct 2018 05:00 PM PDT Many people who bind with chest binders have had the realization on laundry day that they need to wash their binder, and have no idea how to wash it. Since binders are considered delicates, they usually shouldn't be washed the same way you wash your normal clothes. While most binders come with instructions on how to wash them, if you lost the instructions or got a used binder without the instructions, there are some general tips that apply to washing any binder. EditHand-Washing Your Binder Hand-washing your binder will help it last longer. - Close any fastenings on your binder. If you have a binder that fastens shut, such as with a zipper or Velcro, close the fastenings before putting it in the wash, to ensure nothing is damaged.[1][2]
- Flip your binder inside-out. You'll want to turn your binder inside-out when you wash it, since the inside is the part that touches your skin the most and is more likely to get sweaty.
- Since you'll be hand-washing your binder, you'll have more control over what spots get washed, so while you do want to wash the inside, it's important to get the outside as well.
- Place your binder in water. Fill a sink - or even a plastic tub or bucket - with cool water and place your binder into the water. Some binders can be soaked, but don't soak it for too long to avoid a risk of damaging the fabric.
- Check the temperature before washing! It's a bad idea to throw a binder into hot water - it can damage the material and cause it to shrink (as well as hurt your hands). If you don't know the temperature recommendations for your specific binder, opt for cool water.
- Wash your binder with a mild or normal detergent. You don't need to do any harsh scrubbing or squeezing - just put some detergent into the water and use your hands to swirl and lightly knead your binder in the water.[3][4]
- If you don't have access to any detergent, bar soap will work in a pinch.[5]
- If you notice any stains on your binder, you can gently scrub the stain with your hands or with soap, but be careful not to be too rough.
- Don't use a strong detergent, bleaches, or softeners when washing your binder, as these can damage the material.[6]
- Rinse your binder thoroughly. After your binder has been cleaned well, fully rinse it with clean water, until there are no traces of bubbles or soap on the fabric.[7]
- Hang your binder up to dry. Once you've finished washing your binder, gently squeeze the extra water out, then place your binder on a hanger and hang it up somewhere to dry, such as near a window or on the door of your shower. It's also possible to dry your binder on a clothesline outside.
- It's best to dry your binder in a well-ventilated area.[8] However, if you need to hide your binder and can't dry it out in the open, find an option that isn't so visible, such as hanging it in your closet.[9]
- Do not put your binder in a dryer - this can damage the binder, cause it to shrink, and will shorten its lifespan.[10]
EditMachine-Washing Your Binder - Close any fastenings on your binder. If you have a binder that fastens shut, such as with a zipper or Velcro, close the fastenings before putting it in the wash, to ensure nothing is damaged.[11][12]
- Flip your binder inside-out. Since the inside of your binder is the part that touches your skin the most (and usually gets sweaty), turning it inside-out will help to clean it better. Since your binder is going in the washing machine, it will also help to protect any fastenings that your binder may have.
- It's recommended to wash any delicates inside-out.[13]
- Put your binder in a delicates bag, if possible. Chest binders are made of an elastic material, so it's recommended to put them in a bag for delicates (sometimes called lingerie bags) before putting them in with the wash. This will help protect the material.
- Binders can be put in the wash without being bagged,[14] but it's not recommended.
- Wash your binder with similar delicates, if possible. It's often best to machine-wash binders with other delicates of the same weight and color, since it gets more clothes cleaned in one wash.[15]
- If you don't have a lot of delicate clothes that you can wash your binder with, it's possible to put it in with your normal clothes.[16] Just be careful that your binder's fabric or fastenings won't snag on other things in the wash!
- Use cold water with mild or normal detergent. While it's recommended to use a mild detergent, these are more expensive, so using a normal detergent will work fine if you don't have it. However, you should only wash your binder in cold water - hot water will cause it to shrink.[17]
- Don't use strong detergents, bleach, or softeners - these will damage your binder.[18]
- Set the spin cycle to "gentle" or "delicates", if possible. A fast spin cycle can damage your binder (as well as other delicates).[19][20] If you don't have an option on your machine for delicates, though, a standard wash will still work, as long as it's not too rough.[21]
- Hang your binder up to dry. Once you've finished washing your binder, remove it from the delicates bag. Place it on a hanger and hang it up somewhere to dry, such as near a window or on the door of your shower, or on a clothesline outside.
- It's best to dry your binder in a well-ventilated area.[22] However, if you need to hide your binder and can't dry it out in the open, find an option that isn't so visible, such as hanging it in your closet.[23]
- Do not put your binder in a dryer - this can damage the binder, cause it to shrink, and will shorten its lifespan.[24]
- When putting your binder away, hanging it up will help it retain its shape better than if you were to put it in a drawer.[25]
- Binders don't usually need to be washed after one wear. Many people choose to wash their binders after a few days to a week of wear, but you should wash it by the time it begins to smell or look dirty.[26]
- Most tips that apply to washing any delicate clothes tend to apply to binders as well.
- Try searching for tips specific to your binder online. You can try asking on social media sites or just running simple Google searches. Some binder companies post cleaning instructions online, and lots of binder owners are willing to share their tips.
- Avoid putting your binder near a heat source, ironing it, or putting it in the dryer. The heat will cause it to shrink.[27][28]
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| How to Cook Chicken Alfredo Posted: 06 Oct 2018 09:00 AM PDT Chicken alfredo might seem like an indulgence that you can only order in a restaurant, but it's easy to make at home. Start by cooking fettuccine and seasoning chicken breasts. Then sauté the chicken breasts until they're golden brown and slice them into strips. To make the sauce, cook garlic with cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese until it thickens. Toss the pasta with the sauce and serve the chicken strips on top. Garnish the chicken alfredo with freshly chopped parsley and enjoy! EditIngredients - of dried fettuccine
- of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon (6 g) of kosher salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of freshly ground black pepper, divided
- of canola oil
- 8 tablespoons (113 g) of unsalted butter, divided
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- of heavy cream
- 1 cup (100 g) of finely grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of freshly grated nutmeg
- Coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves, for serving
Makes 2 to 4 servings EditCooking the Pasta and Seasoning the Chicken - Boil of dried fettuccine for 8 to 10 minutes. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Stir in the dried pasta and set a timer according to the cooking time recommended on the package.[1]
- Stir the noodles occasionally as they cook to prevent them from clumping together.
- Reserve of the pasta water and drain the rest. Turn off the burner and scoop out of the water from the pasta pot. Set it aside and place a colander in the sink. Carefully pour the pasta into the colander so the rest of the water drains.[2]
- You'll use the reserved pasta water when you make the sauce.
- Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Get out of boneless, skinless chicken breasts and pat them completely dry using paper towels. Set the chicken on a plate or cutting board and sprinkle 3/4 teaspoon (4.5 g) of the kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of the pepper evenly over the chicken.[3]
- Turn the chicken over so you can season the other sides as well.
EditCooking and Slicing the Chicken - Heat the canola oil over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour of canola oil into a large skillet or pot. Turn the burner to medium-high and let the oil heat until it shimmers.[4]
- Avoid using a nonstick pan because it will prevent the chicken from developing a nice crust.
- Lay the chicken in the skillet and cook it for 5 to 7 minutes. Slowly lower the seasoned chicken breasts into the hot oil and leave them to cook without moving them around.[5]
- Leaving the chicken undisturbed will help it develop a crisp brown crust.
- Flip and cook the chicken until it reaches . Use tongs or a spatula to flip the breasts over and put 1 tablespoon (14 g) of the butter in between them. Leave the chicken to cook undisturbed for another 5 to 7 minutes.[6]
- To ensure the chicken is finished cooking, insert an instant-read meat thermometer into the thickest part of a breast. It should reach .
- Remove and rest the covered chicken for 3 minutes. Turn off the burner and transfer the chicken breasts to a cutting board. Lay a piece of aluminum foil over the chicken and leave it to rest before you cut it.[7]
- The juices will redistribute within the meat as it rests.
- Slice the chicken into 1/2 in (1.3 cm) strips. Use a sharp knife to cut each chicken breast into evenly sized strips. Leave these on the cutting board and lay the aluminum foil back over them while you make the sauce.[8]
EditMaking the Alfredo Sauce - Sauté the garlic in the butter for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Put the remaining 7 tablespoons (100 g) of unsalted butter into the pan you used to cook the chicken. Turn the burner to medium heat so the butter melts. Stir in 2 cloves of minced garlic and cook it until it becomes fragrant.[9]
- Watch the garlic closely as you sauté it because it can burn easily.
- Whisk in the cream, cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Slowly pour in of heavy cream as you whisk. Continue to whisk as you add 1 cup (100 g) of finely grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of freshly grated nutmeg, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 g) of kosher salt, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of pepper.[10]
- You can also use cream labeled as "heavy whipping cream."
- Simmer and stir the alfredo sauce for 3 to 4 minutes. Keep the burner at medium heat and stir the sauce occasionally as it bubbles gently. If the sauce gets thicker than you'd like, stir in a few spoonfuls of the pasta water that you set aside earlier.[11]
- It's important to stir the alfredo sauce every once in a while so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Stir the drained pasta into the sauce. Turn off the burner and put the cooked fettuccine into the pot with the sauce. Use tongs or a spoon to toss the noodles so they're completely coated with the sauce.[12]
- Top with the chicken and parsley before you serve the dish. Divide the pasta among your serving dishes and divide the chicken strips between them. Sprinkle a little freshly chopped parsley and serve the chicken alfredo immediately.[13]
- If you like, add extra Parmesan cheese and black pepper.
- While you can refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, the pasta sauce may separate.
- To make spicy alfredo, consider stirring 1 tablespoon (15 g) of pureed chipotle peppers in adobo sauce into the alfredo.
- Add sautéed mushrooms or steamed broccoli florets to the pasta for an extra serving of vegetables.
- For a stronger herb flavor, stir in more chopped fresh oregano, thyme, or parsley.
- If you're serving picky eaters, consider leaving the noodles, sauce, and chicken separate. Then let your guests serve themselves.
EditThings You'll Need - Large pot with a lid
- Colander
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Knife and cutting board
- Large skillet or pot
- Tongs or a spatula
- Spoon
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