HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Ok so i have 4 crabs in a 20gall. I recently switched my heat source from a heat lamp to a uth. I have it on the back of my tank i believe its 6x23 from the reptile basics site. Its placed on the back of the tank. I also have a small zoomed one on the side. I cant get my heat above 75 degrees. My humidity is reading 99% but i cant get my heat up. Help. I also put tin foil over the back heater in hopws it would help bring the temp up but it hasn't done the job...

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What kind of gauges are you using? Digital is better than analog. Have they been calibrated lately? When I had my 20L, I used the same UTH you're using and my temp stayed above 80 at all times.

Edit - My house is at 72 winter and 76 summer if that makes a difference.

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daws409 wrote:What kind of gauges are you using? Digital is better than analog. Have they been calibrated lately? When I had my 20L, I used the same UTH you're using and my temp stayed above 80 at all times.

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Im using a digital as well as an analog. When i first started i bought the analog and ive just kept it even after buying the digital. But i use the digital. And yes to the calibration. The analog was off quiet a bit but my digital was pretty accurate.

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I try to calibrate mine once a month just to make sure they're still spot on... Where is your tank located? Sometimes tank placement can have an affect on temps. Like if it's against an outside wall or near a vent.

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daws409 wrote:I try to calibrate mine once a month just to make sure they're still spot on... Where is your tank located? Sometimes tank placement can have an affect on temps. Like if it's against an outside wall or near a vent.

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Ill calibrate my digital again to be sure. I recently moved my tank, it was on the dresser you see in the pic, and the heat was always up but i was also using a heat lamp. I just changed to the uth and moved the tank over to the right. Its not an outside wall bwhind it but further to the right is an outside wall. Today is a high of 41 here so could that be affecting it? We keep our temp set at around 68-70 in the house.

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Your tank placement is okay. I would definitely try calibrating gauges first. If temp is still off, try using layers of cardboard with the foil for insulation. Some have used the reptiflex stuff (I think that's the name of it) and it helped a great deal. You can also use a warm towel/blanket to wrap the tank....straight from dryer no dryer sheets tho.

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What kind of lid do you have? I assume you have glass since humidity is high... Where you the one that had the glass lid to shatter a few days ago?? If it was you, you can still use lights just not the ceramic bulbs. Sorry if it wasn't you.

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daws409 wrote:What kind of lid do you have? I assume you have glass since humidity is high... Where you the one that had the glass lid to shatter a few days ago?? If it was you, you can still use lights just not the ceramic bulbs. Sorry if it wasn't you.

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Yes! That was me. Right now i have the grate top since the glass issue. I have saran wrap and towels on top of it.
Im not concerned about lights i was using the lamp with a ceramic heating bulb and thay was my mistake with the glass.

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It's all good! We all have made some mistakes. It's a learning process. Do you have packing tape laying around? (Its basically box tape. Place it sticky side out if you do.) This is better than seran wrap IMO.... With the foil/ cardboard, wrap the sides and back of tank and see if that helps.

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The UTH can be insulated with Reflectix:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Reflectix-33-3 ... -L/1014123
Only the one from reptile basics can be insulated. The zoomed ones cannot be insulated. You can use reflectix tape, duct tape or packaging tape to hold it in place.
If you don't want to buy reflectix, you can use cardboard, aluminum foil, styrofoam to insulate (do layers). That will help keep your crabitat warm also.

Some people have used towels in the dryer. If so, I wouldn't recommend using dryer sheets. No fragrances due to the hermit crabs having modified gills. You could put that on top of your grate to keep heat in. Plexiglass would work for a top as well to see through. i personally prefer glass.

Good luck! Hope that helps