HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello friends, I am looking for personal recommendations for heaters (as in, you have personally used this item and would say it works well.) I have a 10 gallon aquarium and 2 crabs, one large and one small. The room I keep the aquarium in is my bedroom and stays about 72-73 degrees but tends to go down some. I bought one of the flat "stick on" type heaters just to add a little warmth and put it on the back of the aquarium (it upped the temp by just a couple degrees.) However I have noticed that my small crab must really like it because in the past week he has put himself right up to the glass where the heat is coming in, so this tells me it must be too chilly for him elsewhere. (My other crab is buried and molting still.) Because of the cost of heaters I want to make sure I get something good. I am paranoid about overheating or roasting my crabs! Any suggestions would be welcome!

You'll want to grab an Ultratherm uth. You will need duct tape to attach it to the tank. You can also insulate over it. Here's a good size for your 10 gal:

https://beanfarm.com/collections/heatin ... 4905302217

You'll also want to get a thermostat which will regulate the temp of the mat (so it doesn't get too hot). Here's the one I use:

https://smile.amazon.com/Century-Thermo ... ljaz10cnVl

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Make sure to mount it on the back of the tank above the substrate line. It's ok if it hits the sub line or goes a little below, it's just your sub might dry out faster.

Edit: I think the link I gave you for that mat is sold out. Here's another size Ultratherm that is available:

https://beanfarm.com/collections/heatin ... 4905301385

Reptile Basics also has ultratherm mats, but they look to be all sold out at the moment.

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Thanks! Are the heaters that are basically bulbs that shine down no good for crabs?

Yw! You can use heat lamps, but they tend to zap humidity. Also, you can't put heat lamps on top of glass lids (they will crack), or on top of mesh lids wrapped completely with saran wrap (the wrap would melt).
Some crabbers use lamps successfully, but I believe the majority of us use Ultratherm or Fluker's uth's.

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CrabbyLover77 wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 11, 2021 12:04 pm

You'll want to grab an Ultratherm uth. You will need duct tape to attach it to the tank. You can also insulate over it. Here's a good size for your 10 gal:

https://beanfarm.com/collections/heatin ... 4905302217

You'll also want to get a thermostat which will regulate the temp of the mat (so it doesn't get too hot). Here's the one I use:

https://smile.amazon.com/Century-Thermo ... re&sr=8-1- https://pickedbyfish.com/best-aquarium- ... controller

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Ultratherm pads are really great. Definitely agreed with that recommendation.