New Hermit Crab Owner - Not sure about environment

[geckfam]

Below is our environment layout that addresses your template questions followed by our questions:

We have a 10g terrarium, small heater on side wall (PetsMart said it was for a 10g tank). The heating pad would not get the tank past 65 degrees so we purchased a 13v red heat lamp (runs 24 hrs. a day) and a UV bulb (runs during the day) in addition to the heating pad. The lamps hang from above the tank. We still aren't getting the tank past 70 degrees (UGH!).

Within the tank, we have Coconut/Echo Earth substrate, 2 medium Hermit's (species unknown), half log, igloo, climbing branch, hermit climbing wall, 4 extra shells slightly larger than the Hermit's, 1 food dish (2 pellet options and changed EOD), 1 conditioned water dish with sponge, we also mist the top layer of substrate twice a day with a spray bottle that has conditioned water. The tank is covered with a open hole wired lid so they can't get and we cover half the lid with a towel to try to keep the heat in). We do have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity. As of right now it is 70 degrees with 60% humidity which I'm trying to get up with a damp towel that lays on the cover. We give them a slice of an apple twice a week and were told to completely clean out the tank (replace the substrate) EOW. We were also told to give them a salt bath once a week.

QUESTIONS BASED ON THE ABOVE:
1) How often should we replace the substrate in the tank? And, should it be 6 inches deep?
2) What recommendations can you make regarding our "heating/humidity situation" based on the above?
3) Should we keep two sources of water (conditioned and salt water) in the tank at all times?
4) Both of our Hermit's sleep "all" day and tend to come out to play and eat around 10:30 p.m. Is this normal? Or, should this tell us that their environment is not good?
5) Another big fear that we don't transfer (separate) the Hermit that is beginning to molt at the right time. Once we notice the signs of molting, how much time do we have in order to transfer the molting crab to it's ISO??? Everything that I have read says "DO NOT TOUCH THEM"
6) Based on the above information, how large should the ISO tank be and what should we have in it? Do we need a heating pad, do we need to watch the humidity? Is the ISO a duplicate of the 10g tank without all the toys????
7) If the Hermit in the ISO is done molting but the hermit in the 10g tank started molting in their home, how long can I keep the hermit in the ISO safely?

I'm sure we have other questions but these are the ones that are waking me up in the middle of the night

[hermitcrab24]

Hello,
1. Yes, the substrate should be inches deep. Play sand is also good to mix in with your Coconut/eco fiber. The sand does not need to be replace every other week. If it is looking gross or you have mites/bugs, then you should change it.
2. Maybe try a UTH, I have seen them online, not sure what stores to look at, maybe someone else knows. For humidity. maybe cover more than half the tank with the wet towel (be sure to leave some fresh air though)
3. Yes, please provide both fresh and salt water.
4. Yes, this is normal, they are nocturnal and are most active at night. Mine do the same thing, don't worry about it
5. You do not need to ISO them when they molt. It is hard to predict molting signs, making it hard to ISO them in time. You would only need to ISO a molter if they were molting on the surface. It is more natural for them to molt on their own in the main tank.
6. The ISO tank should look like the main tank, but more necessities than decoration. Yes, a heating pad is recommended. Yes, you should purchase a hygrometer to monitor the humidity.
7. Like I said, no need to ISO a normal healthy molt.

Added notes:
You don't need sponges, they hold bacteria and are a pain to change that often. You can put little rocks or assemble some sort of steps if you are worried about them being able to get in and out safely.

Make sure your pellet food is safe, fresh food is recommended, but dry foods from places such as the Hermit Crab Patch are also good.

I hope I helped
Let us know if you have more questions,
Bonnie

[geckfam]

Bonnie, this was very helpful!

I took a wet towel (ringed it out) and placed it over the top of the tank. Ran to the pet store to buy a glass top, in hopes that it will help with the heat. In the hour and a half that I was away, the humidity jumped up to 85! I replaced the metal mesh top with the glass, added another 5 gal heating pad (I now have two plus the red lamp). I have two thermometer's in the tank. One now shows 80 degrees and the other says 72 degrees. As long as the one that says 80 doesn't go up, I think we should be in good shape. I only have three inches of substrate at the bottom of the tank right now. We will be adding more before the end of the day.

I can not tell you how much I appreciate your quick reply to address our questions, thank you!

[hermitcrab24]

Your welcome

Is there room for fresh air to get in the tank? It is important they do have some fresh air.

Glad I helped and your conditions are improving