HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hey I think I know the answer to this also, but I figured I would write it anyhow...

I was using 75 watt 'basking' bulbs, one over each 10 gallon, which was the wrong kind apparently (thank you petsmart :roll:) because the bulbs are mounted in a hood pointing sideways so I was told by a better store that most of the heat was going sideways and not down.

when one burned out I replaced both with 75 watt regular bulb-shaped red heat bulbs, not basking-shaped red bulbs. the thing is these seem to be a lot hotter.

the temp has been up to 85 during the day. (Not higher) and it drops to maybe 78 at night. these bulbs also seem more drying of the humidity.

it hasn't seemed to bother the crabs extremely, and in a way I think they like the warmth, but I think it may soon get way too hot (and dry) since it is spring here and the temps in the house are warming up fast.

I have til tomorrow to go back and exchange for lower wattage. // right now I am leaning toward going for the lower watt. I can always make it warmer with one of the uth's... also I am not sure one of those temp 'dimmers' would work with the hood I have..

just thought I would see if there were any thoughts. :}} I dont think id want it to be over 85 degrees in there.. and not all the time.. thanks for any thoughts.. :}} I have til tomorrow to exchange them.

from my own past experience, I have to tell you...TAKE THOSE BULBS BACK!!!!! I was sold a 50 watt bulb from Petsmart once for a ten gallon, and it caused ALL my crabs to die. It is impossible to keep up the humidity with that high a wattage (at least for me), so I highly recommend taking it back for something less than 50 watts.

omg im so sorry to hear that! I would have been soo furious and devastated, by turns....

I have already just turned the whole fixture off, because it all just seems too warm.. tomorrow I will bring them back.

luckily the store owner is really accomodating (he owns the store, its not a chain, hes GREAT) so I think he will let me exchange until I get ones that are correct... im SOO sorry about that.. good lord I would have totally and completely lost it. :{{

thanks for the help :}

Did you get a bulb for desert reptiles, or did you get a tropical bulb?
I got a 50watt tropical incandescent bulb and in a 5.5 (now an iso tank) it kept it at the low 70's, in that small of a space.

I use two UTH lamps in my upstairs 44g gallon - a 50 watt and a 75 watt. that keeps it around the 75 range, so you might want to consider getting a lower watted Lamp.

well, I returned them for 40 watt today.... I asked about the tropical vs desert.. they showed me the different ones but said in this case it wasn't applicable (apparently) because these are red night bulbs...

I really hope to stay with the red bulbs because I like to watch them in the dark without bothering them.. and, my schedule is not always dependable so i like for them to have natural dusk and dawn without needing me to change any lights... so I am just trying the 40 watt.

((btw frumpitylump I love your name ))

I just put them in a few mins ago, I will see how they like it. :}} luckily the store is being really cool about letting me exchange them. thank you!

well, I never knew the difference between desert vs. tropical, I was just going by wattage, but hey, whatever works is great! hope it works for you! I think I might try and get a red bulb sometime...for now, I just sit the heat lamp on top of a towel @ night - it barely lights up a small section so I can just barely see them, but I'd rather not have to worry about the towel.