HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So, I've been trying my hardest to keep the humidity level between 70 and 80%, however, I have a screen top lid. I've even resorted to wetting a paper towel periodically throughout the day and laying it over the screen.

Right now, I am using Ecoearth for my substrate. The humidity gets down to about 40% when I have not been home to mist. This is really bugging me. I have been reading and saran wrap sounds like my only option right now. How do I do that? I think I am going to experiment with it on the screen.

Also, I noticed mold on one side of the tank. Just one little fuzzie. I heard a salt water solution sprayed helps, but will the extra salinity hurt my crabs? Also, if I can use salt water safely, how much salt to water do I mix?

Thanks so much in advance! I just got pps recently and am excited and nervous!

I use sand but I always spray with salt water to help prevent mold. For the lid you need to add saran wrap like that sticky stuff which I can't remember the name of. Put it over 3/4 of the lid since you still need air circulation.

Hi Melissa,

I have sand in my tank. I have a large recessed bowl in the center with gravel. The gravel bowl is half filled with water. This does wonders to keep the humidy up. When I do my deep clean every two weeks, I boil the gravel to keep them clean. My climbing wood is mopani wood which doesn't mold. I set both my water dishes on the gravel, when doing refills, I don't mind when a little water splashes on to the gravel.

Hope this helps...

definitely need some sort of lid to keep in humidity ... saran wrap, press n seal ... heck even styrofoam cut to fit lid will work

whatever you do DONT use table salt ... use the salt mixture that you use for your salt water pool ... mixed with a dechlorinator and a marine salt water mix such as instant ocean

also having a salt water pool and a fresh water pool will help with humidity too

Thanks everyone!

I have driftwood. I just found a piece that was moldy in my tank. So, I think when I can, I will switch to mopani wood. Yesterday, I covered most of the lid in saran wrap and it has done wonders.

I have both a fresh water and salt water pool for my crabs. For some reason, all the salt water keeps disappearing so much that I have to refill twice, sometimes three times a day! I wonder if my crabs are using that much...hmm! Strange.

I will try a salt water solution, switching my wood, and maybe I'll rearrange my tank and get a gravel/water pool going too.

I really, superduper appreciate all the help.

ps. I would like to know if the small coconut shell hides mold if they get wet? I spray *everything* in my tank(not the food- I take that out first!) and my crabs like a hide log I have, but it's getting moldy too! We have another one, which is actually plastic but it isn't near the heater and the log is. I might get them a coconut shell to hide in, if they don't mold...

Adding some moss to your habitat can also make a big difference in humidity.

I really would like to get some moss. What does everyone recommend?

Since you're in a desert environment like me, I can relate to your humidity woes!! You must get a glass lid somehow. You just won't be able to retain good humidity without it. Our humidity here is always about 40-50%, so it's near impossible to keep the crabitat humid without a lid.

I have a total of three glass lids, and a screen over one end of the tank (where the heat lamp is). I can crack the lids open depending on how high or low the humidity is, and this helps regulate a proper temperature.

I have organic green moss that I bought at a hardware store, and I also use Eco Earth in half of my tank. Those both help keep the moisture up. And when my wood starts to get moldy, I'll set it out in the sun or put them in the oven on low to dry them back out.

Glass Lid works like a charm.
I've been in the process of setting up a 33 gallon tat (the people I know laugh at me... u____u) and for the past few days it's had hardly anything to keep it humid for my experimental needs.
Yesterday we went out to a glass company (they cut glass for bathrooms, houses, cars, anything) and got a 36.5 " x 13 " piece cut at 3/4 " thickness for 23 dollars.