HCA: Hermit Crab Association

OMG ok so for Christmas I needed a new tank so my family got me a 30 gallon and I’m sooo thankful,,, but the problem is that the substrate can only go as deep as 1 shell and i know you’re supposed to have it 3-4x deep as the biggest ones shell but the doors to my tank wont allow that as the open from the side and I’m worried my crabs will get stressed or even try to molt and cant. Now ofc their fine right now but i want to prevent problems and i cant buy a new tank because it’s expensive and my old tank is a 10 gal and its too small so what should i do?? Maybe like a moss pit i could do like a sand pit for like half the tank and just add a latter so i can still open the doors but my crabs can still burrow? Please give me suggestions! I also already have a moss pit, i have questions about that too, are you supposed to switch out the moss often and also i have a wood ramp will it mold with the moisture?? Please lmk i only have two hermies right now, but i might get like 1-2 more.

Can you cut a strip of plexiglass or even plastic from a cheap tote to fit against the front, so deeper substrate won't fall out when you open it? That's usually what is recommended for front opening tanks so that good substrate depth can still be achieved. It's not pretty but very functional.

Yea I might do that but like on both sides or just on one do you mean

Double doors? It'll be safest to run a strip the entire length of the front so that if both end up opening there won't be any spills.

wodesorel wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 08, 2024 2:10 pm

Double doors? It'll be safest to run a strip the entire length of the front so that if both end up opening there won't be any spills.

Yes, put the plexiglass along the entire front, so that when you open the doors, the sub will stay in the tank.

Can you tip the tank up on its back and have the doors at the top of the tank thus being able to make deep sub?