8' x 4' custom enclosure ideas

[IvynaJSpyder]

Okay this is maybe a bit ambitious, so I'll run it by the experts lol

I current have 6 large crabs in a 75G. It works, but I feel they could use some extra space.

I'm moving house soon, so I figured it was a good chance for an upgrade. I've been looking for larger aquariums on sale with little luck, but then it hit me: a grow tent! I've been using modified grow tent enclosures for my reptiles for a few years now and they are wonderful for maintaining heat and humidity. And as a bonus, I'm going to have an extra one laying around, as my tegu is getting an upgrade.

So this one will be 8' x 4' x 4', with a framed bottom section that can hold 12" of substrate. Currently it's topsoil, but it will be emptied and replaced with sand.

Some ideas:

• Adding in a 20L aquarium or similar, and setting up a filtered saltwater setup for their 'beach'. Maybe with a tidepool theme and simulated waves on a timer?

• Planting real mini palm trees for them to climb!

• A partly sectioned off little garden where I can let things grow, and then let them in to chow down

• A mini filtered freshwater pond, maybe with a waterfall?

Also maybe lots of silly tiki bar themed stuff for fun

Thoughts or suggestions?

[RiNiKy506]

I’m not sure about the grow tents but if you think it would work, I think that would be awesome to have such a big habitat for them. It could open up a whole new way to keep hermit crabs, I don’t think I’ve heard of them before. No matter how big we go, we always want to go bigger. Lol!
Edit: I wanted to add I love the 75 gallon, I think the dimensions of them are just perfect. I currently have 4 tanks going and if I could upgrade my 55 to a 75 I think I’d be happy for awhile. I like to have 10gal/crab so I think what you have is perfect but if you know how to do the grow tent thing, like I said up top, I think it could open up a new way to keep them.

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[aussieJJDude]

I think this sounds like an awesome. Id love to see setups pics of the current reptile enclosure, it sounds amazing. Id think the crabs would like the new digs.

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[Links]

I’ve been thinking of a custom build myself. This sounds like a great idea for a nice size enclosure! Hope to see updates on this!

[Sweet Pea]

I've seen some really cute smaller greenhouses used inside as reptile enclosures and have often thought that would be fun to try for hermit crabs. Of course the price tag on those is crazy...

[ZombieLuvMF]

I would love to see how something like this would turn out as well. I'm planning an out of state move in a yr or 2 and this is what is holding me back from getting a 75g or 90g for mine. A grow tent could be broken down and shipped, just set up with new substrate at the new place.
You've got my brain working and I'm gonna research this 1 too for a DYI Hermie abode.

[wodesorel]

The crabs will have no trouble tearing through the fabric/plastic.