HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hiya! Interested in one day getting springtails but I have heard they can get way out of control and leave the tank. Anybody know anything about this? Thanks in advance!

More like they will randomly find their way to the tank without you trying!

Hahaha, good to know, thank you for clarifying!


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wodesorel wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 01, 2021 10:40 pm

More like they will randomly find their way to the tank without you trying!

Heh, I would have liked to click "like" to this comment. Springtails do seem to come and go randomly on the soil of potted plants in my house. I had them for quite a few years and just realized they must have been "wiped out" by my not watering often enough. It does seem like a crabitat with coco fiber could be a happy place for springtails. Right now I believe my crabitat only has some tiny black flies though (plus a crab).

Oh yeah.. talk about bug heaven in our crab homes!

It seems like a crabitat is the ideal habitat for most bugs. I'm paranoid of them (mostly ants) getting in there and is part of the reason I have my twin 29gal's on a double metal stand (upper/lower tanks), so the only crawly way in is up 4 thin stand legs or up the power cords. Flying or dropping in is always an option LOL.

Reason I have this fear is I've had ants work their way into odd spots in/around my fish tanks. My kids spill drinks, drop crumbs, etc.. I couldn't imagine having to tear out 100's of pounds of substrate because of ants.

Ants are only a severe threat when they've moved a queen in and are making babies. At that point they get aggressive and will attack anything nearby that is threatening to them. It's how I immediately lost 1/3 of my colony, and almost all of my remaining crabs from stress afterwards.

Ants coming in to steal food are annoying, but they aren't living in there. It's no different then them finding a mess somewhere. Clean well, use preventative measures like physical barriers, they won't hurt the crabs!

Could you put a few drops of chemical cleaner around the tank? Nothing that would come in contact with crabs, but is just a few drops outside the tank safe, or are they sensitive to all fumes like birds are?

If you put a thick line of Vaseline around the entire tank (like somewhere in the middle), they won't be able to walk through it. It will keep them out of the tank.

Edit: Just make sure there's no way they can crawl from something nearby onto the top of the tank. They can't jump, so they would need a direct path to get to the tank lids to get in. The Vaseline would create a barrier they can't pass.


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myllkti wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:12 am

Could you put a few drops of chemical cleaner around the tank? Nothing that would come in contact with crabs, but is just a few drops outside the tank safe, or are they sensitive to all fumes like birds are?

I think the risk is just too high of trace amounts of that chemical making it's way into the tank. With the tank being basically a sealed environment, all it would take is trace amounts to be a detriment.

wodesorel wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 03, 2021 11:01 pm

Ants coming in to steal food are annoying, but they aren't living in there. It's no different then them finding a mess somewhere. Clean well, use preventative measures like physical barriers, they won't hurt the crabs!

I appreciate the advice.

My fear is the food source is always there as is the habitat for them. Like you say, all you can do is provide physical barriers.

The problem I've had with my aquariums a few times over the years is eliminating the scent trails that keeps other ants from following it. A household of 6, plus 2 cats, 2 dogs is a challenge to keep totally crumb and drip free. Plus our home is nestled in the woods.

CrabbyLover77 wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:41 am

If you put a thick line of Vaseline around the entire tank (like somewhere in the middle), they won't be able to walk through it. It will keep them out of the tank.

Edit: Just make sure there's no way they can crawl from something nearby onto the top of the tank. They can't jump, so they would need a direct path to get to the tank lids to get in. The Vaseline would create a barrier they can't pass.


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Great idea! Thanks!!

myllkti wrote: Great idea! Thanks!!

You're welcome!

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