HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I've been debating on what size to make my pools in the currently I have some tupperware bowls that hold about 1/4 gallon each.

I'm trying to decide what to do for the pools, I'm thinking of using KK's but I am having issues deciding on what size to make them.

Buy some small ornate rocks and some silicone. make it like a brick wall pool play god for a bit I promise not to tell

LOL I wonder if that's what they think every time we reach in... "RUN GOD IS AFTER US AGAIN!"

I was thinking stone steps as an escape route.

I'm making a 7.5x12x3" salt water pool
for mine and after making the box and not being able to make it fit the way I wanted I just decided to build the pool
into the tank so one wall and a ramp running along the wall

My pools measure:

freshwater
8-13 inches long (sloping)
18.5 inches wide
about 8 inches deep
holds around 3 gallons of water

saltwater
9-16.5 inches long (sloping)
18.5 inches wide
about 9 inches deep
holds around 4-5 gallons of water

Everyone has great ideas. I have a 75 g and my pools are built in on both ends. They are about 4 1/2 wide and run the length of the tank. I have rocks and plants and flowers built in with silicone. Remember its how ever you want. You are God!

Alright quick question how deep should my pools be? My tank is a 30gal 12" deep and the space I've allocated for a pool is about 7.5"

right now I've set it up to be 3" deep but I have a feeling that's not deep enough

my thoughts are that ground space is more important, so i would say as long as the pools are deep enough for the biggest crabs to grow and still get in and fully submerge is deep enough. My bowls are about 3.5 inches deep and my biggest crab is loving them. They are above ground and i find this is keeping them clean for more then a day unlike the lower bowls. I dont use a filter so i change my water often, its just easier to go in grab the bowl and take it to be dumped, cleaned and refilled. I find that it gives molting space under the bowls too. I love the look of the big lake pools but i also love my clay pools. The crabs are loving the texture of them and are hanging out on the sides and edges for napping even.

karbon ifyou are doing built in pool make them as deep as your substrate with a little lip so that substrate doesnt get in

tlivs wrote:karbon ifyou are doing built in pool make them as deep as your substrate with a little lip so that substrate doesnt get in

I agree. If not built in, then deep enough for your largest crab to fully submerge is good.

I also agree with suebee that ground space is important when determining how large or small to make your pools.

I've seen the ramp style with the lip and honestly can't afford to really spare much more ground space so it's a 90 degree drop with a ramp

I've decided that maybe a 4" ledge would work. Or 3.5.
My substrate is 3" deep so half an inch I can make it ramp up to the ledge.

I think I'm gonna go with 1/2 gallon to full gallon KK style pools, I do need the floor space, but I'm looking at adding levels that hold substrate and will add to my floor space.

I saw someone had some upper level pools, that would be cool. Maybe a shelf somehow that a KK would sit in? It would have to be strong but water is not as heavy as sand so i think a second level with sand would need to be stronger.

I've already got a level set up that will hold the weight, Sue, it's finding what to put it in. I've got a level set up that way in my 75 now, [still waiting on the blasted heaters to set up the 120.] With the extra space given by the levels though and the fact I can't see anyone when I look in at different times, I'm pretty comfortable my numbers are still ok.

I understand, i like the idea of a upper shell shop but i find the crabs change more often when they are on the ground level not in a shop. Moss pit maybe? Or maybe the place for eating? a little crab cafe'.