Hi from Alabama and thanks for your help!

Hermias_mom · Post by **Hermias_mom** » Tue Mar 21, 2017 10:47 pm

So when I first joined HCA and started posting less than a month ago, I was way too stressed to slow down for much of an introduction. I thought I was buying a pet that would be slightly more work than a rock. Boy was I wrong! Found a $10 ten gallon tank at a consignment sale and came home with a hermit crab. My sister had them growing up, and I knew several folks who currently had them who were telling me how easy they were. The one time in my life I don't research something extensively, and I end up with a pet that is almost as much work as fish. I made so many mistakes getting started. But I saw that little crab and just fell in love with her. Seeing them happy is worth it.

After changing the setup multiple times, I ended up with the below and plan to set up a 29 gallon tank in the next month or so to give them more room. I'll post that in a different forum.

Two pics of Helena in the magpie shell and light green (moldy?) turbo. Sneaky shellchanger! I still haven't seen it and she's changed into at least 5 shells now. She's the largest crab. Hermia is in the bumpy shell I have no name for yet (anyone?). Branch is not shown, but same shell type and half the size of Hermia. All 3 are small/medium PPs far as I can tell- Branch had just completed what I assume was a surface molt when I bought him. He was orange w sharp black tips, one bent leg tip, and is missing his big pincher. I think his deep crab modified shell saved his life, but that's just my opinion. Helena is a shell changer and not afraid of me at all. Very aggressive actually but not usually to the other crabs. Hermia's been hiding and skittish lately and I worry she has PPS. Only time will tell who makes it.

I see Branch and Helena a fair bit and Hermia occasionally. They love the oak leaves, oak tree bark, coconut oil, and climbing the repti hammock and top of the cage.

We are now on the fourth and hopefully last change of substrate- 5:1 playsand:coco fiber wet to sand castle consistency with Instant Ocean saltwater. 5.5-6 inches deep. 2 pools that go down to the bottom, one fresh, one salt. Working on a better option than live rock coral for the freshwater. They like the sturdiness of the coral, but I'm afraid it'll make it brackish. I got scared when Branch fell in and couldn't get back out so I added the rocks in the bottom for traction, and then he could climb the coral. Maybe a piece of plastic cholla...

Ive got 80-87F and 80%+ RH and have read the care sheets for generic crabs and PPs. Still a few things left to implement, but I think it's pretty close to optimal for a ten gallon. Any suggestions or thoughts please let me know. I expect they'll be in here another month, two at most, but I'll probably keep it around as an ISO tank in case I need one.

Wanted to say thanks to everyone who has given me advice and help. I am so very grateful!!! Happy Crabbing!

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YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Thu Mar 23, 2017 7:29 pm

I miss so many posts on Tapatalk! I know we have talked numerous times! But, in case I didn't say it, welcome to the HCA!!

I definitely do not recommend the glass bowls like you have. With them having the round bottom like that, it would be difficult to get out of. Most of us use tupperware containers and do the double bowl thing. I know you have seen my crabitat pics that show that, an LadyJinglyJones has a thread explaining them as well. You can buy the bowls for super cheap at Walmart.

You mentioned having live rock. In order for that to survive, you would need filtration and at least bubblers. Those types of things need oxygen in the water. At least that is the way that I understand it. Otherwise, it will break down into organic waste causing a rise in ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. (Which isn't good). Those would burn the hermits modified gills.

That's my two cents...I know...I can keep the change

Hermias_mom · Post by **Hermias_mom** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 8:17 am

I didn't think about nitrates or nitrites. Would live rock be a problem just lying in the crabitat do you think? The crabs love to climb and nibble them. Should I bake them out?

Working on plastic stacked bowls. Only thing I've got right now are 24 oz cottage cheese containers, which are super flimsy.

I thought with the gravel vacuum to change water and better exit/entrance the ceramic bowls might be ok. I if the crabs are down, I wasn't planning to move the bowls, just use towels for the last bit of water if needed.

Dont know if I need bubblers yet or not. I have to work to keep humidity below 90%. I think my sub is still equilibriating with my 40-50%RH house for various amounts of uncovered reptile mesh lid. Also, still training the husband on when (not) to mist.

Hermias_mom · Post by **Hermias_mom** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 8:20 am

Hermias_mom wrote:I didn't think about nitrates or nitrites. Would live rock be a problem just lying in the crabitat do you think? The crabs love to climb and nibble them. Should I bake them out?

Working on plastic stacked bowls. Only thing I've got right now are 24 oz cottage cheese containers, which are super flimsy.

I thought with the gravel vacuum to change water and better exit/entrance the ceramic bowls might be ok. I if the crabs are down, I wasn't planning to move the bowls, just use towels for the last bit of water if needed.

Dont know if I need bubblers yet or not. I have to work to keep humidity below 90%. I think my sub is still equilibriating with my 40-50%RH house for various amounts of uncovered reptile mesh lid. Also, still training the husband on when (not) to mist.

What do you think of this?

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YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 8:29 am

Hello! I replied with GB for GotButterflies

Hermias_mom wrote:I didn't think about nitrates or nitrites. Would live rock be a problem just lying in the crabitat do you think? The crabs love to climb and nibble them. Should I bake them out?

GB: To be honest, I'm not sure. I think it would be fine, but it would be dying, so it would be just bacteria. You might get some yuck on the substrate it is on, but that should be fine. Sad to think about anything dying...I'm kind weird like that. I don't like to kill anything.

Working on plastic stacked bowls. Only thing I've got right now are 24 oz cottage cheese containers, which are super flimsy.

GB: I'm not sure I would want to use anything super flimsy. It could be a risk dropping it into your substrate. From what I understand Walmart sells their Mainstay brand containers really cheap. I've seen a few crabbers mention 88 cents for a two pack. I'm sure it depends on the size you get.

I thought with the gravel vacuum to change water and better exit/entrance the ceramic bowls might be ok. I if the crabs are down, I wasn't planning to move the bowls, just use towels for the last bit of water if needed.

GB: Gotcha...I think you mean you don't want to mess with the bowls for fear of their being a crab underneath or something. That is understandable.

Dont know if I need bubblers yet or not. I have to work to keep humidity below 90%. I think my sub is still equilibriating with my 40-50%RH house for various amounts of uncovered reptile mesh lid. Also, still training the husband on when (not) to mist.

GB: Why are you keeping your humidity below 90? That is not necessary. High humidity is not an issue for the crabs. The only thing it can cause is mold growth. The mold is not an issue for the crabs, but can be for you.

YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 8:31 am

That craft mesh should work temporarily

YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 8:34 am

It really depends on how big your crabs are. You can also bend the craft mesh and then take a lighter to the crease of the bend and heat it up a little, then bend it again and let it cool off that way. That should help it stay bent.

Hermias_mom · Post by **Hermias_mom** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:24 am

Thanks for the information, GotButterflies. I've been trying to update the crabitat and put a few new pics up, but the update is taking longer than I thought. My crabs are pretty small, so I should be okay for the next little while using the craft mesh I think. My largest crab has a 7/8" entrance shell, and my smallest is under 1/2".

YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:56 am

Oh my goodness...too cute! Little crabbies!!

LadyJinglyJones · Post by **LadyJinglyJones** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 8:05 pm

Hermias_mom wrote:
Dont know if I need bubblers yet or not. I have to work to keep humidity below 90%. I think my sub is still equilibriating with my 40-50%RH house for various amounts of uncovered reptile mesh lid. Also, still training the husband on when (not) to mist.

One warning: if you are using the soft (nylon-ish, not metal) reptile netting, crabs cab absolutely get through that. And will.

Hermias_mom · Post by **Hermias_mom** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 10:27 pm

Thanks for the heads up LadyJinglyJones! Luckily my 10 gallon came with a mesh lid having heavy duty metal mesh (oval type openings). I'd need some serious shears or maybe some bolt cutters to get through that.

The 29 gallon I'll be setting up next has a glass lid. I have all sorts of questions about setting up that tank, but I'll put those in another post. Thanks again!

Hermias_mom · Post by **Hermias_mom** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 12:58 am

My molter finally came up (and he is a beauty!), so I put in nested bowls and another 1-2 inches of substrate. Took off all other UTHs than the Ultratherm (they weren't doing much anyway) and my tat is stable at 80-83F and 80-88%RH. (Please ignore the gage in the pic- humidity drops fast when I change out food.). Used bent craft mesh (thanks for the softening tip GB) to construct a ladder of sorts with cutouts to help them climb. My smallest got out safely.

Sticks, shells, and mesh to help them exit. The Ziplock bowls rest on the bottom of the tank, so I'm not worried about crushing a molter. More connected digging space in this configuration. The crabs have hidey holes all up in the coral and tunnels under it and the coco hut. They've already been into the moss pit and made a burrow.

I think I'm ready to start tackling the 29 gallon. Might use bubblers there if needed. So far I haven't needed them.

Thoughts, anyone?

Hermias_mom · Post by **Hermias_mom** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 1:03 am

Hermias_mom wrote:My molter finally came up (and he is a beauty!), so I put in nested bowls and another 1-2 inches of substrate. Took off all other UTHs than the Ultratherm (they weren't doing much anyway) and my tat is stable at 80-83F and 80-88%RH. (Please ignore the gage in the pic- humidity drops fast when I change out food.). Used bent craft mesh (thanks for the softening tip GB) to construct a ladder of sorts with cutouts to help them climb. My smallest got out safely. Sticks, shells, and mesh to help them exit. The Ziplock bowls rest on the bottom of the tank, so I'm not worried about crushing a molter. More connected digging space in this configuration. The crabs have hidey holes all up in the coral and tunnels under it and the coco hut. They've already been into the moss pit and made a burrow.

I think I'm ready to start tackling the 29 gallon. Might use bubblers there if needed. So far I haven't needed them.

Thoughts, anyone?

Here's the pics:
Can you see the crab hiding in the coral? He's in the middle of the pic.

Another hidden crab.

Right side of tank- burrows under coral.

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HCA: Hermit Crab Association