HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Landlords are going to replace the flooring in the main room of the apartment. This will require taking up the tile that is there, and installing new floor (probably "floating" bamboo flooring, which adheres to CA standards for toxic off-gassing, which is good, but I don't know yet whether there will be anything problematic involved in preparing the surface).

I have two jumbo crabs (one still down molting; assuming he is alive) in a 120g high tank on a big heavy cabinet. They will have to move this set-up to replace the flooring in that room, so I hope it will slide easily enough to just slide it into the bedroom.

Question: if the tank is in the bedroom while they do "all the things" in the main room, there will at least be a lot of tile/grout dust from breaking and tearing up the tile, and possibly some fumes depending on what is required to put in "floating floors" (I assume there's no glue, because they are "floating," but maybe they have to use some icky stuff to prepare the surface in some way?) There will be times when the door will have to be open between the rooms (and there's a pretty big gap under the door, anyway, so it's definitely not "air-tight"). What, if anything, can I do to protect the tank while this work is going on?

no ideas? . . . Bueller. . . ?

....Bueller?....

Hahaha love it!

Can you seal up the tank? Like with plastic wrap and tape so nothing gets in there?

I could try that.

Would have to turn off the UTH's (so plastic wrap does not melt) and the air pump (so it does not just pump dust/fumes in to the water sources).

But how long would it be safe to keep it sealed up like that? (I'm a big proponent of having fresh air circulating frequently.)

If your UTH's are on the back or side of the tank, you don't have to unplug them when you cover with plastic wrap - my first two tanks only had plastic wrap for the covers.
Are your flooring guys working during the days? You could seal it up really well for the day, then let some air in at night. There are people who keep their tank sealed up tight all the time and only let air in when they change food and water.

They will definitely just be working during the day, and maybe the dust will settle by night, but if there are fumes those might hang around longer. I'll be sleeping in the same room, though, so hopefully they won't be too bad!!!

The UTH's are on the back and one side of the tank, but within about an inch of the top. I can try to see if I can get a good seal without the plastic wrap getting on the UTH area. If it will stick well to the upper frame of the tank, that should work.

If there ARE fumes from the work, and they last a few days, how long do you think it would be safe to leave the tank without any fresh air exchange? Again, it is a 120 high, about 1/2 full of substrate, two jumbo crabs (one down molting, going on a year now, hope to see him sometime this summer); one is up and active at night.

Thanks again!

I am totally spitballing here, but would think 48-72 hours would be fine to be sealed up.

I appreciate it!

Final question: if Major Tom has not come up from molting yet when it is time to move the tank, should I dig him up? I have never, never interrupted a molter before, and have serious qualms about that. How much of a risk is it really to move the tank when one is down molting?

curlysister wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:48 pm

I am totally spitballing here, but would think 48-72 hours would be fine to be sealed up....

Thank you...

If you tape the wrap to the trim of the aquarium, it would allow a good seal and allow the UTH to stay on.

In aus, very little glues are used an I imagine it be the same in the US. The most I would worry about is dust, but when removing the tile, a vacuum and keeping the place well ventilated so minimise much of the issues IMO.
https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/rooms ... ting-floor

Honestly, simply keeping the door close (if you can) with a towel jammed underneath should keep the dust out, and if extra cautious, leaving the window open in the bedroom to keep the room well ventilated just in case would do a fantastic job and honestly forgo the need to seal up the tank. But that's me.

Thanks all who answered; we had a family tragedy in May and have not put in the flooring, so I have not had to do anything about it yet. Also, Major Tom has still not come up. He will have been down for 2 years in October, so. . .