Dual light hood

[Alfielou]

Hello all. We are new to hermies, and we have a few questions. We have, at your advice, switched to an ultratherm heater and insulated it. Our temp is pretty good, but still falls to 70-72 early day after a really cold night or an ongoing cold day. We have supplemented with a space heater in the room for a few hours each evening to keep the temp more stable at 75-79. The problem is that when we go on vacation, we have someone who will look after our crabs but won't be able to sit around while a heater runs for a few hours, and I am not comfortable with a space heater on a timer due to fire hazard. I have read the section on lights and heat. We are wondering what people's recommendations are for two scenarios. First, a night glow only (bulb and hood recommendations) that is heat producing, and second, a dual hood with day and night bulbs with night bulb being heat producing and day both with and without heat producing. Our uth is 22 watts, and we do have a thermostat. Thanks!

[GotButterflies]

I personally don't like lights for heating because they tend to make the humidity evaporate. The hermit crabs need humidity to breathe (they have modified gills)..which heat and humidity should ideally be 80/80. Humidity can be higher than 80. If you get a glass top that can help keep heat and humidity in. What do you have your tank insulated with? What kind of ultratherm do you have? Where is the uth located? It should be on the back of the tank above the substrate. If it is a zoomed heater, it should not be insulated bc those are already insulated. You can insulate around those though. There are a few ways to insulate your tank.
1) Product called Reflectix. Looks like an old car shade. Sells for about $15/$16 for a large roll at Home Depot or Lowes. I've been told some stores carry smaller rolls for cheaper. They do make a Reflectix tape. The Reflectix can be hung with this tape, packaging tape or duct tape. 2) you can use aluminum foil (shiny side facing the tank), then cardboard or styrofoam. You can do multiple layers of this. You can do all sides of the tank to keep the heat in. If necessary, you can heat blankets and or towels in the dryer without dryer sheets and drape them over the tank as well.

[wodesorel]

How cold does the room get at it's worst?

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[Alfielou]

The room probably hits upper 50's at worst. Our heater is the 22 watt 11 by 17 on back of a 10 gallon tank. I went with this one, as I had read on here to get as big as would fit on the back of your tank. It did not say above substrate. I had already tried the zoomed 10-20 gallon 7 or 8 watt heater, which did nothing. I looked at the ultratherm 15 watt 6 by 23, but that's just a hair longer than our tank, and I know uth' scant be bent. And honestly, 15w wouldn't have cut it! We are insulated with styrofoam on full back, ends from about an inch or two below substrate to stop of tank, and top of tank over Saran over mesh top. Humidity is almost always 98-99* even with Saran allowing 1-2 inch opening in mesh in one end for fresh air. They are located in the room that they are because the set up was a Christmas gift to my son, and that's his room. Plus it keeps the dogs away from them!

[aussieJJDude]

Do you currently have any insulation? Have you also tested your gauges? (I've had a few thats been inaccurate by a couple of degrees, so its worth testing that as well).

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[Alfielou]

I have insulation (styrofoam) on all sides but front. We have digital gauges that I have calibrated the hygrometer on (using salt method), but the only way I have checked the thermometer is by doing a quick read temporal scanner than I just held in the tank for an air reading. Humidity affects those, however.

[GotButterflies]

I have insulation (styrofoam) on all sides but front. We have digital gauges that I have calibrated the hygrometer on (using salt method), but the only way I have checked the thermometer is by doing a quick read temporal scanner than I just held in the tank for an air reading. Humidity affects those, however.

I would try doing a layer of aluminum foil (shiny side facing inside the crabitat) before the styrofoam layer to see if that helps, and also try doing the front of the tank as well. A lot of people do all 4 sides of their crabitats during the winter.

[Alfielou]

Thank you. Would you even put a layer of foil between the heater and glass, or just the sides without the heater? We are also wondering about a hood because in New England we do not get 12 hours of daylight in the winter!

[GotButterflies]

Thank you. Would you even put a layer of foil between the heater and glass, or just the sides without the heater? We are also wondering about a hood because in New England we do not get 12 hours of daylight in the winter!

Yw! Put a layer behind the heater You are trying to trap the heat in the tank.

They don't necessarily have to have 12 hours of light above them. I have my UVB lights set for 8 hours Room lights are sufficient as well.

[Alfielou]

That's what I thought, but thought maybe I was missing something since it was shiny side towards the inside of the tank. We have been using room lights and daylight as well. I thought I had read that crabs don't have to have uvb. Do they need it? Thanks again

[GotButterflies]

That's what I thought, but thought maybe I was missing something since it was shiny side towards the inside of the tank. We have been using room lights and daylight as well. I thought I had read that crabs don't have to have uvb. Do they need it? Thanks again

Crabs do not have to have UVB I do provide it for all of mine though. Yw Happy to help! I hope the insulation works for you!

[aussieJJDude]

There has been benefits of using UVB, which many seem to offer. Its not required at all, but if you have the available funds to do so I'd encourage anyone looking into it!

Many also have noted that insulating the substrate layer helps, like the sides, back and then the suvstrare layer along the front so you can still look in and whatnot... so may be try that out before going fully insulated?

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[Alfielou]

Thank you!