HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello all! I am new here and I am a new mom to two little cute crabbies. But I'm wondering for the UTH my current terrarium is a 15 gallon and it's about 13 inches (height) and about 23 inches in length. I did buy a 11 by 17 inches UTH but what would be okay or is that too small? I was thinking maybe 6 by 23 inches? but my terrarium barely reaches 23 inches in length. should i still get that one?

Also I think my hermits are the purple pinchers but it's hard to tell.

Here are some pictures:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/195345283 ... res/2nt87S

https://www.flickr.com/photos/195345283 ... res/WXZ6K7

Much appreciated for any advice.

Welcome!

That sounds like a generously sized heater for the size of tank you are describing. The main thing is that it is sized such that it maintains an ~80F temp range in the tank. Room temp the tank is in has a lot to do with it.

Looks like PPs to me too.

JTKermie wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 11:17 am

Welcome!

That sounds like a generously sized heater for the size of tank you are describing. The main thing is that it is sized such that it maintains an ~80F temp range in the tank. Room temp the tank is in has a lot to do with it.

Looks like PPs to me too.

So for shells wise, which ones would they prefer? round or the d-shaped ones? I also ordered a 6 by 17 inches one too just in case i have to raise the substrate more when they grow bigger.

For shells, I'd go with the recommended round opening turbos. It's what PPs prefer in the wild. I've ordered mine on eBay and amazon. Mail order sources are very hit/miss. Have to read the adds carefully to see how they size them. Best to go with Etsy, FB marketplace from a fellow HC keeper, etc.

JTKermie wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 11:26 am

For shells, I'd go with the recommended round opening turbos. It's what PPs prefer in the wild. I've ordered mine on eBay and amazon. Mail order sources are very hit/miss. Have to read the adds carefully to see how they size them. Best to go with Etsy, FB marketplace from a fellow HC keeper, etc.

These are the ones I am considering:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/195345283 ... res/JD6tY8

Will these work?

The group of round opening green turbos at the bottom of the pic would be the preferred shells for PPs. The others could work too depending on the size and preference of the crabs.

JTKermie wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 7:08 pm

The group of round opening green turbos at the bottom of the pic would be the preferred shells for PPs. The others could work too depending on the size and preference of the crabs.

So should I get all of them or get mostly turbo? how big? of a size should I get the shells?

Maggie_65 wrote: So should I get all of them or get mostly turbo? how big? of a size should I get the shells?

I'd go for just the turbos first. To know what size you'll need, you need to measure the opening of the shell the crab is currently in. I like to get shells that are a bit smaller, the same size, and a bit bigger than what the crab is currently in. This gives them a range of options to choose from. I've bought from these stores before and my crabs have liked their shells:

https://naplesseashellcompany.com/hermi ... nings.html

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrabbyKatesCr ... _purchases

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CrabbyLover77 wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 9:35 pm

I'd go for just the turbos first. To know what size you'll need, you need to measure the opening of the shell the crab is currently in. I like to get shells that are a bit smaller, the same size, and a bit bigger than what the crab is currently in. This gives them a range of options to choose from. I've bought from these stores before and my crabs have liked their shells:

https://naplesseashellcompany.com/hermi ... nings.html

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrabbyKatesCr ... _purchases

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Okay thank you so much for the advice. I got ones 1 inch up to 2 inches just in case (1 inch for smallest one and 2 inches just in case my bigger one grows out of it)

CrabbyLover77 wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 9:35 pm

I'd go for just the turbos first. To know what size you'll need, you need to measure the opening of the shell the crab is currently in. I like to get shells that are a bit smaller, the same size, and a bit bigger than what the crab is currently in. This gives them a range of options to choose from. I've bought from these stores before and my crabs have liked their shells:

https://naplesseashellcompany.com/hermi ... nings.html

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrabbyKatesCr ... _purchases

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

Thank you for the advice. So my question is related to the UTH question. so my tank is a 15 gallon, 13 inches by very close to 23 should i go for the 6 by 17 UTH or 6 by 23 UTH? thanks

Maggie_65 wrote: Okay thank you so much for the advice. I got ones 1 inch up to 2 inches just in case (1 inch for smallest one and 2 inches just in case my bigger one grows out of it)

Yw, that's awesome. The more variety the better.

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Maggie_65 wrote:
Thank you for the advice. So my question is related to the UTH question. so my tank is a 15 gallon, 13 inches by very close to 23 should i go for the 6 by 17 UTH or 6 by 23 UTH? thanks

Yw. You'll want to get the largest uth that will fit the back of your tank without going over the sides (you shouldn't try to bend uth's around corners). So if the 23" will fit flat on the back, go with that one. You should also grab a thermostat to regulate the uth temp so it doesn't get too hot. You can set the thermostat to a certain temp, say 80°F, and it will shut the uth off when it gets to that temp. Here's the one I use (I have one for each of my tanks):

https://smile.amazon.com/Century-Thermo ... 118&sr=8-9

What uth are you getting? If it's not already padded, you can insulate over it. This will help the uth to not work as hard. You can do this by wrapping aluminum foil over cardboard, shiny side out, and duct tape it over the uth. I skipped the cardboard and insulated with just the foil over the entire uth. If your uth is padded, you can't insulate over it, but you can insulate around it. Hope this helps!

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For https://www.etsy.com/listing/883720005/ ... ng-sets-of

What size should I get for those? ^ the seller says to get smaller size.... cause I showed him the hermits size:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/195345283 ... res/oisZj8

The seller is saying that the opening for the rest of the links shown will be too big? Links shown below

https://www.etsy.com/listing/816776107/ ... crab-1-116

https://www.etsy.com/listing/760851176/ ... als-banded

https://www.etsy.com/listing/816749917/ ... rab-1-1-18

For https://www.etsy.com/listing/8...ll-gre ... ng-sets-of

What size should I get for those? ^ the seller says to get smaller size.... cause I showed him the hermits size:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/195345283 ... res/oisZj8

The seller is saying that the opening for the rest of the links shown will be too big? Links shown below

https://www.etsy.com/listing/8...lized- ... crab-1-116

https://www.etsy.com/listing/7...y-turb ... als-banded

https://www.etsy.com/listing/8...estry- ... rab-1-1-18

Maggie_65 wrote:For https://www.etsy.com/listing/883720005/ ... ng-sets-of

What size should I get for those? ^ the seller says to get smaller size.... cause I showed him the hermits size:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/195345283 ... res/oisZj8

The seller is saying that the opening for the rest of the links shown will be too big? Links shown below

https://www.etsy.com/listing/816776107/ ... crab-1-116

https://www.etsy.com/listing/760851176/ ... als-banded

https://www.etsy.com/listing/816749917/ ... rab-1-1-18

CrabbyLover77 wrote: Yw. You'll want to get the largest uth that will fit the back of your tank without going over the sides (you shouldn't try to bend uth's around corners). So if the 23" will fit flat on the back, go with that one. You should also grab a thermostat to regulate the uth temp so it doesn't get too hot. You can set the thermostat to a certain temp, say 80°F, and it will shut the uth off when it gets to that temp. Here's the one I use (I have one for each of my tanks):

https://smile.amazon.com/Century-Thermo ... 118&sr=8-9

What uth are you getting? If it's not already padded, you can insulate over it. This will help the uth to not work as hard. You can do this by wrapping aluminum foil over cardboard, shiny side out, and duct tape it over the uth. I skipped the cardboard and insulated with just the foil over the entire uth. If your uth is padded, you can't insulate over it, but you can insulate around it. Hope this helps!

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

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Maggie_65 wrote:For https://www.etsy.com/listing/8...ll-gre ... ng-sets-of

What size should I get for those? ^ the seller says to get smaller size.... cause I showed him the hermits size:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/195345283 ... res/oisZj8

The seller is saying that the opening for the rest of the links shown will be too big? Links shown below

https://www.etsy.com/listing/8...lized- ... crab-1-116

https://www.etsy.com/listing/7...y-turb ... als-banded

https://www.etsy.com/listing/8...estry- ... rab-1-1-18

Sent from my SM-S908U1 using Tapatalk

Your guy is so little and cute! It looks like his opening is 3/4". If it were me, I'd get a couple shells with openings slightly smaller (5/8"), a couple the same size (3/4"), and a couple slightly bigger (7/8"), and also maybe a 1" for future growth. I also have those sizes in my Etsy shop, all except the 1" shell. You probably wouldn't need anything over 1" just yet.

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