HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Okay, so after quite a bit of reading, I really didn't find anything rock solid for a play sand/EE mix recipe, other than 5:1. Basically, what I'm wanting to know is how many EE bricks (moistened with dechlorinated water) do I use, per 50lb bag of play sand? I'm attempting to plan a 50gallon setup, with PP crabs in quarter sized or smaller shells, and know that I'll need to use *at least* 150 lbs of sand. I'm just not sure how many bricks of EE that means that I'll need, and how many more will I need to use if I go up to 200 or 250 lbs of sand?

I'm planning a ground sphagnum moss pit, with wheatgrass seeds and eggshells mixed in, as well as planning some rolly polly hunting, when it gets warmer around here... And a bubbler in the fresh water pool, as well as using silicone to 'glue' stones and plants to my pools to make for easier in and outs. Any ideas for adding extra levels, making my own climbing nets, or hanging 'shell shops' and things would be very much welcomed! (Especially the levels thing!)

Thanks, guys!

You can use straight ee, straight sand, or a mixture of both. Can't really tell you how much since I have straight ee. It's a personal preference. I'm sure someone here knows how much to mix.... 2nd levels can be shower caddys from bath section (comes in many shapes and sizes). I currently have a seagrass basket for shell shop.

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CrabMother wrote:Okay, so after quite a bit of reading, I really didn't find anything rock solid for a play sand/EE mix recipe, other than 5:1. Basically, what I'm wanting to know is how many EE bricks (moistened with dechlorinated water) do I use, per 50lb bag of play sand? I'm attempting to plan a 50gallon setup, with PP crabs in quarter sized or smaller shells, and know that I'll need to use *at least* 150 lbs of sand. I'm just not sure how many bricks of EE that means that I'll need, and how many more will I need to use if I go up to 200 or 250 lbs of sand?

I'm planning a ground sphagnum moss pit, with wheatgrass seeds and eggshells mixed in, as well as planning some rolly polly hunting, when it gets warmer around here... And a bubbler in the fresh water pool, as well as using silicone to 'glue' stones and plants to my pools to make for easier in and outs. Any ideas for adding extra levels, making my own climbing nets, or hanging 'shell shops' and things would be very much welcomed! (Especially the levels thing!)

Thanks, guys!

Hey there! Let's see if I can help!

It's one 50lb bag of sand per 10G of tank, so you'll want 5 - 250 lbs. 3/4 of an EE brick to one bag of sand gets you the 5:1 ratio, so you'll need 3 3/4 bricks (I would just do the whole 4).

Everything you said sounds great! If you're doing a false bottom (I recommend you do!), you could try something like what I did with any leftover egg crate you have. It's the thing the shells are hanging from on the left side in the first picture. (:

I got a fifty pound bag of sand and mixed one block of ee and one little round thing of ee in it and that came out to be about 5-1

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Thank you so much for the replies, everyone! I really appreciate it.

EadvEnturEs - Oooh! I hadn't thought about doing a false bottom - but I'll be researching it, now, too, as I think I've heard it helps if you get a flood issue...? I'm going to have to look for more shower caddy stuff. The ones I keep seeing seem a bit too small for anything but little hanging dig pits. I need to find one big enough for a shell shop... And for the two pools, I'm thinking of double layering plastic tupperware things, for the pools, so I don't have to 're-dig' holes each time I pick up a pool to clean or refill it, and an 'in ground' ground sphagnum moss pit with eggshell and wheatgrass seeds mixed in. I really want to go 'all out', and make sure this is all done well. We tried once in the past, and the whole setup and crabs (minus the sand) was actually stolen when someone broke into our apartment. We're moving, and with tax returns coming, I want to get this all set up for my 12 year old to enjoy. He was devastated when the others were stolen, and being on the Autism spectrum, things for him are already often stressful enough, so seeing him connect and quiet and focus intently on the crabs, and actually devouring reading material and *listening* to me on how to care for and handle them, it was just amazing. We have two amazing, gentle, 'large' dogs, but for some reason nothing but those crabs has seemed to do that for him. He's excited about this new go-round, and excited to go rolly polly hunting when it gets warm enough. keep seeing things about 'air plants'? Are the little ones they sell at Walmart okay? I decided against putting bamboo in there, because they'd tear it up and dig it up and knock it over...

CrabMother wrote:Thank you so much for the replies, everyone! I really appreciate it.

EadvEnturEs - Oooh! I hadn't thought about doing a false bottom - but I'll be researching it, now, too, as I think I've heard it helps if you get a flood issue...? I'm going to have to look for more shower caddy stuff. The ones I keep seeing seem a bit too small for anything but little hanging dig pits. I need to find one big enough for a shell shop... And for the two pools, I'm thinking of double layering plastic tupperware things, for the pools, so I don't have to 're-dig' holes each time I pick up a pool to clean or refill it, and an 'in ground' ground sphagnum moss pit with eggshell and wheatgrass seeds mixed in. I really want to go 'all out', and make sure this is all done well. We tried once in the past, and the whole setup and crabs (minus the sand) was actually stolen when someone broke into our apartment. We're moving, and with tax returns coming, I want to get this all set up for my 12 year old to enjoy. He was devastated when the others were stolen, and being on the Autism spectrum, things for him are already often stressful enough, so seeing him connect and quiet and focus intently on the crabs, and actually devouring reading material and *listening* to me on how to care for and handle them, it was just amazing. We have two amazing, gentle, 'large' dogs, but for some reason nothing but those crabs has seemed to do that for him. He's excited about this new go-round, and excited to go rolly polly hunting when it gets warm enough. keep seeing things about 'air plants'? Are the little ones they sell at Walmart okay? I decided against putting bamboo in there, because they'd tear it up and dig it up and knock it over...

(Sorry it took so long to reply! I wanted to do it on my computer since I had a lot to say. )

My pleasure! For the false bottom: Yes, it gives a safe space for water to collect should you have an issue, to help protect your crabs and tank from drowning and algal blooms. There's a ton of great information on this forum about how to do it, but I suggest this video by another crabber because I'm very visual and needed to see something real. It's the one I used! They're affordable and relatively easy to make so I think it's definitely worth your time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26mF1RXlcqA

For my baskets, I bought some from the dollar store, cut them to the size/shape I wanted, and zip-tied them to the corner guards I have lining the tank. I'll add a photo through Tapatalk after I post this. And doubling up your pools is a good idea. I think most people do it now-a-days to avoid disturbing any buried crabs nearby; I know I did. I actually have a crab that hangs out in a hole up against my water dish on a daily basis.

I'm so sorry to hear about your last crabs! That's so sad! I'm sure your son will be excited to have some more. (:

I don't know which ones you're referring to, but here's a safe air plant list by another crabber on this forum (the second post in this topic):

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 6&t=112840

Deciding against the bamboo is probably a good idea. I suggest you be careful with anything involving roots in your 'tat. I love the idea of live plants, but in my opinion, to do it properly they need to be in their own pots in the substrate to ensure the root systems won't disturb any molters or buried crabs of any kind. If you think of how long a crab can molt, and how quickly roots grow, it could really cause an issue within weeks, even if the plant is small to begin with. I may do it someday though!

Another thought on the bamboo (and thanks for this idea, I may do it!): Maybe you could grow it in the fresh water dish? Since it needs water changes regularly and the roots would be contained, and the plant doesn't need substrate, I think it could be a great addition to a fresh water dish that's large enough!

Thanks for making me think and come up with new ideas! This is fun.

This is what I did with my baskets:





If you look closely you can see that the edge is cut to make it slant at the angle I wanted on both of them. There are more photos in my build thread, which is linked in my signature. (:

Oh, oh! I've got an idea! The local Dollar General has magazine holders - they're plastic, but have holes in them similar to those baskets above. One end is high, tall as a magazine or comic would be, and then slants down to the other end which is lower. I wonder if I set up a couple of those, with some sort of netting or that plastic craft sqauare webbing stuff, for a way to climb in and out... Did a shell shop in there, or something...?

Fish net works great! I buy it at the beach shops. I believe it might be sold at the craft stores too


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