Sudden Extreme Humidity Loss While I'm Away From Home
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:17 am
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
I use Eco Earth, no sand. It’s over twice the depth of my larger crab, about 5-6 c.m.
2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
I have a small circular humidity gauge by the two water bowls. It used to be on the other side of the tank by the shell shop. It usually reads 90%. I have a stick on temperature gauge on one side of the tank. It’s about 26⁰C in the day, about 24⁰C at night. I also have a moveable combination gauge that I routinely move around the tank. At the back of the tank, near the heaters, I get ~28⁰C and 85%-90% humidity. At the front, it’s about 26⁰C, same humidity range.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I have Exo Terra heat tape covering the back and part of one side of the tank. In winter, I use a heat lamp as well.
4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
I have both in deep pools. I think I use Nutrafin Aqua+. Instant Ocean salt mixed according to the box ratio.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I use a mix of fresh scraps (fruit, veggies, meat) and egg shells with some powdered foods from Canadian Crab Connection. Food is replaced every day to every two days.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Two purple pinchers. I’ve had them about six years.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
One molted around Christmas, the other is down now.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
30 gallon glass tank. I don’t have the dimensions on me. The lid is metal grating but covered in saran wrap/duct tape except for the hatch. That’s usually covered with a plastic bag.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Two. Both are large crabs, I think.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Over ten.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No, but yesterday dry wall was cut nearby. I’ve moved them far from that area though.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I change water once a week on average and scoop out leftover food every couple days. I also have isopods to help. A couple times a year, I’ll remoisten soil and mix it all up since it condenses.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
A plastic plant climbing wall
15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
Described below. I’m not currently living in my house until repairs etc are done. I’m in a smaller town an hour away and can only get home to the crabs a couple days a week.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
For a brief bit of background, I redid my tank on Friday, including moving where the two moss pits were in the tank. I also added some plants on the walls of the tank for a climbing wall. After all this, the humidity was fine. On Saturday, we had a really bad hail storm and I had water in my basement. I've had to leave the place so that contractors etc. can come in to dry things out and open a couple spots on the walls. I've been back twice to check progress and grab a few things I've forgotten. Both times, the humidity in the crab tank has been at or below 50%! After the first day I returned, I added more moss, rewet the moss (it was still damp), and added more saran wrap to the tank lid. It got up to 70% by the time I left, but it was back to below 50% two days later when I returned. I'm really worried about the crabs, especially since I can't be there daily to check on things. I'm honestly not sure what else to try or how to make sure it doesn't drop while I'm gone. I've had steady humidity until this point in time so I'm not sure what's gone wrong. My thoughts are that me not being there cooking/showering etc has reduced the humidity outside the tank and that's causing this issue, that the saran isn't keeping the humidity in, or that the gauge is off. Unfortunately, my small, moveable humidity and temperature gauge has gone missing in the storm chaos so I can't double check. Usually, I move it around the tank to check the temp and humidity in different spots. I'd really appreciate any suggestions or tips.
I use Eco Earth, no sand. It’s over twice the depth of my larger crab, about 5-6 c.m.
2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
I have a small circular humidity gauge by the two water bowls. It used to be on the other side of the tank by the shell shop. It usually reads 90%. I have a stick on temperature gauge on one side of the tank. It’s about 26⁰C in the day, about 24⁰C at night. I also have a moveable combination gauge that I routinely move around the tank. At the back of the tank, near the heaters, I get ~28⁰C and 85%-90% humidity. At the front, it’s about 26⁰C, same humidity range.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I have Exo Terra heat tape covering the back and part of one side of the tank. In winter, I use a heat lamp as well.
4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
I have both in deep pools. I think I use Nutrafin Aqua+. Instant Ocean salt mixed according to the box ratio.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I use a mix of fresh scraps (fruit, veggies, meat) and egg shells with some powdered foods from Canadian Crab Connection. Food is replaced every day to every two days.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Two purple pinchers. I’ve had them about six years.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
One molted around Christmas, the other is down now.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
30 gallon glass tank. I don’t have the dimensions on me. The lid is metal grating but covered in saran wrap/duct tape except for the hatch. That’s usually covered with a plastic bag.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Two. Both are large crabs, I think.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Over ten.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No, but yesterday dry wall was cut nearby. I’ve moved them far from that area though.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I change water once a week on average and scoop out leftover food every couple days. I also have isopods to help. A couple times a year, I’ll remoisten soil and mix it all up since it condenses.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
A plastic plant climbing wall
15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
Described below. I’m not currently living in my house until repairs etc are done. I’m in a smaller town an hour away and can only get home to the crabs a couple days a week.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
For a brief bit of background, I redid my tank on Friday, including moving where the two moss pits were in the tank. I also added some plants on the walls of the tank for a climbing wall. After all this, the humidity was fine. On Saturday, we had a really bad hail storm and I had water in my basement. I've had to leave the place so that contractors etc. can come in to dry things out and open a couple spots on the walls. I've been back twice to check progress and grab a few things I've forgotten. Both times, the humidity in the crab tank has been at or below 50%! After the first day I returned, I added more moss, rewet the moss (it was still damp), and added more saran wrap to the tank lid. It got up to 70% by the time I left, but it was back to below 50% two days later when I returned. I'm really worried about the crabs, especially since I can't be there daily to check on things. I'm honestly not sure what else to try or how to make sure it doesn't drop while I'm gone. I've had steady humidity until this point in time so I'm not sure what's gone wrong. My thoughts are that me not being there cooking/showering etc has reduced the humidity outside the tank and that's causing this issue, that the saran isn't keeping the humidity in, or that the gauge is off. Unfortunately, my small, moveable humidity and temperature gauge has gone missing in the storm chaos so I can't double check. Usually, I move it around the tank to check the temp and humidity in different spots. I'd really appreciate any suggestions or tips.
