I need to get humidity levels under control ASAP

[Kbeachy]

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

About 8 inches and other side of tank is flat
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 one temperature is usually all good humidity is wayyy off

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

I have a heating pad on the side of tank and a light lamp on top
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 use thrive brand fresh and salt water conditioner go by directions on package

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Just gave them hermie treats and pellets mixed with shrimp

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Had 3 from Myrtle beach last year in August bought five more about 4 months ago

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Idk

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 8 crabs


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
20

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Just cleaned the tank five minutes ago

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Just bought some big sponges that grow once water is added

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
New hideout

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.)?


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Need to get humidity under control asap

.

[Kbeachy]

How do I post a picture of my crabitat? I want to know if it is correct so my hermies are under as less stress as possible…

[CrabbyLover77]

Hi! I'll put my suggestions under your answers. Hope this helps.

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

About 8 inches and other side of tank is flat

CL77- What kind of sub is it? Is it moistened to sand castle consistency using dechlor fresh or salt water? You want the entire bottom of the tank to be at least 3x the height of your largest crab. So you need to fill the flat side in with sub.

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 one temperature is usually all good humidity is wayyy off

CL77- What is the actual temp? What is the actual humidity? Crabs need moisture in the air to breathe, so humidity constantly under 70% will stress them and/or cause death.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

I have a heating pad on the side of tank and a light lamp on top

CL77- Heat lamps zap humidity. I'd suggest using uths on all sides of your tank to keep the temp up instead of the heat lamp. Fluker's and Ultratherm are good brands. I use thermostats with mine to regulate the temperature.

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 use thrive brand fresh and salt water conditioner go by directions on package

CL77-You need to use an actual marine salt for your salt water. What you have doesn't have the minerals crabbies need. Instant Ocean is a good brand. Mix according to the bag/box instructions. Many of us use Prime as a dechlorinator/heavy metal detoxifier.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Just gave them hermie treats and pellets mixed with shrimp

CL77- Variety is key. Pellets aren't great for hermits long term. Check out the safe food list for options. Crabs can eat many of the foods we eat. Be sure to provide lots of protein and calcium daily.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Had 3 from Myrtle beach last year in August bought five more about 4 months ago

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Idk

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

CL77- How big is their enclosure? What type of lid are you using? If it's a mesh lid, wrap it in plastic wrap to help hold in moisture. Avoid the heat lamp area though.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 8 crabs


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
20

CL77- HCA recommends 3-5 shells per crab, so you would need at least 24 shells. Make sure you have the right kind of shells for your crabs. Purple Pinchers generally prefer shells with round openings. Check out the shell care sheet for more info.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Just cleaned the tank five minutes ago

CL77- You're just surface cleaning right? No need to change out substrate unless there is a flood or bacterial bloom.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Just bought some big sponges that grow once water is added

CL77- Sponges harbor bacteria when wet. You can leave dry real sea sponges in the tank for the crabs to munch on though.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
New hideout

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.)?


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Need to get humidity under control asap

CL77- Ditch the heat lamp and add more uths instead. Make sure your sub is moistened to sand castle consistency. That will up your humidity too. If you have a mesh lid, cover it in plastic wrap. Personally, I like glass lids because they do a great job of trapping the moisture inside.

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[Kbeachy]

Don’t they need oxygen to breathe?

[Kbeachy]

And the lamp isn’t for heat it’s just to give them the 12 hrs of sunlight

[CrabbyLover77]

Don’t they need oxygen to breathe?

They do. They get oxygen when you are lifting the lid to do tank maintenance every few days.

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[CrabbyLover77]

And the lamp isn’t for heat it’s just to give them the 12 hrs of sunlight

Gotcha

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[Kbeachy]

Gotcha

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Could I get your email so we could chat more I really need help getting my hermit crabs in better shape. I already had one pass away a few days ago and am feeling like a bad hermie momma.

[turoconnor]

How do I post a picture of my crabitat? I want to know if it is correct so my hermies are under as less stress as possible…

You have to upload the image to an external image host like Google photos, Imgur, or Dropbox. https://www.labnol.org/internet/embed-g ... ite/29194/ And then you would put it in your post by typing

Code: Select all

[img]

on one side and

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[/img]

on the other side of the image's url.

[curlysister]

Could I get your email? I’m in desperate need of help to get my hermies doing better and I’m scared I might want to rehome them because of how falsely I was told how easy it is to care for hermit crabs…

Please note that emailing members is against the rules of the forum.

And please stop making duplicate threads that are the same.

Be patient, and you will have people helping you. If you answer the questions CL77 has asked, we can help you further.

[CrabbyLover77]

Could I get your email so we could chat more I really need help getting my hermit crabs in better shape. I already had one pass away a few days ago and am feeling like a bad hermie momma.

You're welcome to msg me on here, but answering the questions I left for you would be most helpful. Then other members can chime in too on how to help you.

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[Kbeachy]

Please note that emailing members is against the rules of the forum.

And please stop making duplicate threads that are the same.

Be patient, and you will have people helping you. If you answer the questions CL77 has asked, we can help you further.

So sorry won’t happen again I quickly ran thru the agreements so I must’ve missed that I was looking for a quick solution last night.

[curlysister]

What are your temp and humidity readings now?

What are you using for substrate?