30 gallon high? vs. 20 gallon long

[millt43]

I have a 20 gallon long. I want to upgrade. I have noticed that the length of a 30 gallon and a 20 gallon long are the same width.

30 gallon high=30 1/4inches
20 gallon long = 30 1/4 inches

My question is this....The only difference is the height of the aquariums (adding more gallons). When determining the appropriate number of gallons per crab, does the number of gallons matter? Or is it the amount of floor space for substrate for each crab?

Can you put 3 crabs in a 30 gallon even though it is the same length? Or should it be at least a 40 gallon to increase the floor space?

[JoeHermits]

Floor space (or surface area of diggable substrate) is more important for stocking since the number of crabs that will fit depends on how much space they have to bury and molt without being dug up by their tank mates

Upgrading from a 20L to a 30 will provide more space for vertical movement (climbing or digging up or down) but won’t increase substrate surface area (so it doesn’t reduce the chances of crabs finding each other while molting)

That being said, three small or medium crabs will still do okay in a 30 for a few years


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[millt43]

I'm confused...they are the same length. Sooo they would be ok in the 20 L as well?

[JoeHermits]

They would, yes. Stocking is weird and simple “x gallons per crab” rules oversimplify, although I’ll admit our stocking recommendations are a bit complex.

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[millt43]

Thank you!

[CrabbyLover77]

I had the same dilemma a while back. I had a 20 gal L and wanted to upgrade. A 29 gal was on sale, and I realized it was the same L and W, but 6" taller. I still bought the 29 because I know how much my hermits in my 55 gal love to climb. I was able to put a lot more little baskets and climbing stuff up high, and the crabs loved it. They spent most of their time up there. Eventually, I ended up moving those crabs to my goldfish's old 40 gal breeder, when the goldfish went into a 65 gal. But I still keep the 29 gal set up as an iso tank. Just an idea in case you want to give your guys more climbing room.

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[millt43]

Thank you! I think I will if I can find one with a good price!