HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Why guys! So I am new to crabbing as I have just got my crabs last week. I was using a small UTH but it stopped working so I ordered a double domed lamp(I think that's what it's called) that has a side for a day light and a red one for the night. I have a metal lid with the holes in it. I was covering the whole thing except a small corner for air to keep the humidity levels around % but now I can't do that because I don't want to melt the plastic wrap. What are some ways I can keep my crabitat humid enough for my crabbies to breath? Thank you!

Welcome to the HCA!! Although I always recommend glass lids paired with UTH's I know that isn't always an option- but keep in mind that heat lamps them selves do zap humidity. I know some crabbers use foil. Also a tip for your humidity- add bubblers to your pools! They work wonders.


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Hermiearth wrote:Welcome to the HCA!! Although I always recommend glass lids paired with UTH's I know that isn't always an option- but keep in mind that heat lamps them selves do zap humidity. I know some crabbers use foil. Also a tip for your humidity- add bubblers to your pools! They work wonders.


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Thank you! does the foil go under the lamp? Is that Safe? I'm also going to add a moss pit I'm not sure if that will help or not but I've read that crabs love them.

Do the cut around the lamp. Yep mosspits do help a bit- and you are right about crabs loving them, I have one that only leaves the mosspit to eat/drink! Also do you want to fill out the emergency temp so we can give you some tips- I'm not sure where you got your crabs but most places will give you very wrong info.


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How do I do that? And petsmart so the stuff they told me has mostly gone out the window

I put an extra fresh water dish under my heat lamp. It keeps the substrate from drying out so quickly because the water from that dish goes first, as well as creating/maintaining humidity. Also, plastic wrap holds in moisture better than foil, so I put foil over the plastic wrap and have not had any issues with it melting. Most plastic wraps are microwave - safe, so they can withstand quite a bit of heat.

hoomans roole

Vanellope wrote:I put an extra fresh water dish under my heat lamp. It keeps the substrate from drying out so quickly because the water from that dish goes first, as well as creating/maintaining humidity. Also, plastic wrap holds in moisture better than foil, so I put foil over the plastic wrap and have not had any issues with it melting. Most plastic wraps are microwave - safe, so they can withstand quite a bit of heat.

hoomans roole

Thank you! I'm going to try that this morning my heat was between 85 and 90 and my house is really warm so I turned off the light and covered the lid with plastic wrap to bring the humidity back up but I'm definitely going to try that! Thank you

Southernxlove wrote:

Vanellope wrote:I put an extra fresh water dish under my heat lamp. It keeps the substrate from drying out so quickly because the water from that dish goes first, as well as creating/maintaining humidity. Also, plastic wrap holds in moisture better than foil, so I put foil over the plastic wrap and have not had any issues with it melting. Most plastic wraps are microwave - safe, so they can withstand quite a bit of heat.

hoomans roole

Thank you! I'm going to try that this morning my heat was between 85 and 90 and my house is really warm so I turned off the light and covered the lid with plastic wrap to bring the humidity back up but I'm definitely going to try that! Thank you

Also, be sure to use a hard plastic dish, or something that won't get hot. The first day I tried this, I used a glass bowl (one like you would get salsa in at a restaurant) and when I picked it up after it sat under that lamp for a day, it almost burned my fingers! Now I use a ZooMed ReptiRock dish. The dish stays cool and my crabs seem to prefer the warmer water.

hoomans roole

Vanellope wrote:

Southernxlove wrote:

Vanellope wrote:I put an extra fresh water dish under my heat lamp. It keeps the substrate from drying out so quickly because the water from that dish goes first, as well as creating/maintaining humidity. Also, plastic wrap holds in moisture better than foil, so I put foil over the plastic wrap and have not had any issues with it melting. Most plastic wraps are microwave - safe, so they can withstand quite a bit of heat.

hoomans roole

Thank you! I'm going to try that this morning my heat was between 85 and 90 and my house is really warm so I turned off the light and covered the lid with plastic wrap to bring the humidity back up but I'm definitely going to try that! Thank you

Also, be sure to use a hard plastic dish, or something that won't get hot. The first day I tried this, I used a glass bowl (one like you would get salsa in at a restaurant) and when I picked it up after it sat under that lamp for a day, it almost burned my fingers! Now I use a ZooMed ReptiRock dish. The dish stays cool and my crabs seem to prefer the warmer water.

hoomans roole

Would a Tupperware bowl thing work as long as they can get in and out easily?

Southernxlove wrote:

Vanellope wrote:

Southernxlove wrote:
Thank you! I'm going to try that this morning my heat was between 85 and 90 and my house is really warm so I turned off the light and covered the lid with plastic wrap to bring the humidity back up but I'm definitely going to try that! Thank you

Also, be sure to use a hard plastic dish, or something that won't get hot. The first day I tried this, I used a glass bowl (one like you would get salsa in at a restaurant) and when I picked it up after it sat under that lamp for a day, it almost burned my fingers! Now I use a ZooMed ReptiRock dish. The dish stays cool and my crabs seem to prefer the warmer water.

hoomans roole

Would a Tupperware bowl thing work as long as they can get in and out easily?

Definitely! Probably the deeper the better, anyway! I just used the ReptiRock because that's what I had on hand [WHITE SMILING FACE]

hoomans roole

Hello! Welcome to the HCA! You can also use press-n-seal for the lid. As far as bowls, just make sure that the crabs can get out of it safely in case they go in it. Moss pits, air stones in the water pools, and glass lids are great for holding humidity. Heat lamps are prone to evaporate the humidity out of the air.

Most of us crabbers prefer the UTHs because of that reason. The crabs need the humidity in order to survive - they have modified gills that they use to breathe. A few great websites are: www.reptilebasics.com or www.beanfarm.com Us crabbers use them to heat the air and not the substrate. You would want to buy one for the back of your tank, above the substrate. Most people buy it to fit the length of back of their tank. Those types of UTHs can be insulated during winter months, which can help keep your tank at the minimum of 80 or above for temperature.

Good luck!

GotButterflies wrote:Hello! Welcome to the HCA! You can also use press-n-seal for the lid. As far as bowls, just make sure that the crabs can get out of it safely in case they go in it. Moss pits, air stones in the water pools, and glass lids are great for holding humidity. Heat lamps are prone to evaporate the humidity out of the air.

Most of us crabbers prefer the UTHs because of that reason. The crabs need the humidity in order to survive - they have modified gills that they use to breathe. A few great websites are: http://www.reptilebasics.com or http://www.beanfarm.com Us crabbers use them to heat the air and not the substrate. You would want to buy one for the back of your tank, above the substrate. Most people buy it to fit the length of back of their tank. Those types of UTHs can be insulated during winter months, which can help keep your tank at the minimum of 80 or above for temperature.

Good luck!

I want to get a UTH soon and was looking for something in the mean time. Thank you for tips!!

Yw!


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UPDATE: I went ahead and purchased an UTH and immediately brought my humidity back up! The store didn't have any moss when i went or I couldnt find it but I will definitely be adding that soon thank you guys!

Yw! Did you buy the zoomed brand? Just an FYI those cannot be insulated.


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