A Question about led lights and substrate and more..

This is the place to post if you have questions and aren't sure where to ask them! If it relates to one of the sections below, please post there instead.
Post Reply

Topic author
hermityhannah
Posts: 26
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:15 am
Location: South Korea

A Question about led lights and substrate and more..

Post by hermityhannah » Thu May 06, 2021 9:27 am

1. To give day/night effect, i use a led light during the day. It is 2W and very tiny. But my crab seems to hate it.. It isn't active when its on and goes to the darkest parts of the tanks.. But when I turn it off, it seems to move around more.. Should I stop using it..?
2. I currently use cocofiber solely for the substrate. It's about 13cm (it's really the max I can do...) The thing I would like to ask is how should I get the consistency(?)to be moist enough? Especially the substrate at the bottom of the tank..
3. My hermit crab does not burrow.. My hermit crab is not going below or in the subsrate.. Only roams outside of it.. Could it be a substrate problem..?
It would really mean so much to me if you could answer any of these questions! Hope you have a great day (or night!)

User avatar

FJrocks003
Posts: 271
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2020 8:03 am
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: A Question about led lights and substrate and more..

Post by FJrocks003 » Thu May 06, 2021 9:45 am

With the light: Crabs are nocturnal so he's just finding a place to hide and sleep in the day, just like you would do at night, no issues there.
Substrate: Crabs need deep substrate to molt. Most of us use a 5-1 mixture of play sand and to eco earth the get the right consistency. Make sure it's moist but not damp, sandcastle consistency. You need a minimum of 6" (about 16 centimeters) or 3 times as deep as your largest crab, whichever is deeper.

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
Last edited by FJrocks003 on Thu May 06, 2021 12:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Indigo, Fleck, Flame, Dilly, and our newest addition: Thunder
RIP: Bubbles (passed on Wednesday March 31, 2020)

User avatar

Motörcrab
Posts: 2378
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 9:56 pm
Location: Coal Region in Pennsylvania
Contact:

Re: A Question about led lights and substrate and more..

Post by Motörcrab » Thu May 06, 2021 11:36 am

The 12 hours day/night is important to the crabs health. That 12/12 helps them regulate their molting cycle. We have an occasional crab or two that will stay out during the day. More times than not ours venture out within 15-30 minutes after the light goes out.

Questions two and three go hand in hand. Your crab may not burrow because it can't or is afraid to. If it's too most the cab may be scared to dig into water. It may think it's too close to water and a ride or rain may move in causing it to drown. Too dry and the crab won't be able to make a tunnel so it can't dig.

The easiest way I tell if my sub is good is to poke a finger all the way into it. When I pull my finger out the hole should hold it's shape and not collapse.
Coenobita Curiosities offering crabby decor
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoenobitaCuriosities


Topic author
hermityhannah
Posts: 26
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:15 am
Location: South Korea

Re: A Question about led lights and substrate and more..

Post by hermityhannah » Thu May 06, 2021 8:47 pm

tysm!

Post Reply