Hello everyone. I am new here and I am new to proper crab ownership. I have two crabs that I got last summer and am setting up their new enclosure. I have a 30 gal long tank. I am mixing the play sand and coconut substrate. They live in our living room which is in the basement and I have a hard time keeping the tank warm enough and humid enough. This new tank has a plexiglass top and I bought some moss.
I am looking for any and all advice. I would like to make sure they are the happiest.
I have a heater attached to the backside. Should I use a lamp as well?
Are there certain tank items I should be including?
New Crabbitat
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sophie_rice
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2024 6:51 pm
Re: New Crabbitat
Hi!! I’m fairly new too (I’ve had my crabs for almost a year) but I would probably say that just a heater is good enough, as long as the temp stays above 77- 80 degrees. Do you have climbing toys or places for them to hide? Also, plants (fake are good, but some real ones can be better too. I would look up safe plants for hermit crabs) make them feel much safer and more at home. I spray mine with a mister regularly to maintain humidity, but there are different approaches to maintaining humidity! Hope this helps!!! Good luck!
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curlysister
- Administrator
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- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: New Crabbitat
What are your current tank temp and humidity?
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers
Re: New Crabbitat
Sorry for the delayed response.
The tank as a said is a 30 long it had a full glass top I have the heaters on one side which gives me about 77% humidity at about 73 degrees Fahrenheit. The other side is a bit colder at about 66 degrees but my humidity is in the 90s the tank on the colder side had a small cut out in the top that I thought would help with the humidity but it doesn’t seem to. I do have some moss in there and their substrate (play sand and coconut fiber) is slightly moist. I have attached pictures.
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The tank as a said is a 30 long it had a full glass top I have the heaters on one side which gives me about 77% humidity at about 73 degrees Fahrenheit. The other side is a bit colder at about 66 degrees but my humidity is in the 90s the tank on the colder side had a small cut out in the top that I thought would help with the humidity but it doesn’t seem to. I do have some moss in there and their substrate (play sand and coconut fiber) is slightly moist. I have attached pictures.
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curlysister
- Administrator
- Posts: 4556
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: New Crabbitat
Those look like the heat mats that have a sticky side, which unfortunately can't be insulated over top. Instead of a heat lamp, I would add some insulation - you can add it to the areas of the back and sides where there is no UTH. You can also add it to the top, or put a folded up blanket on the top to help hold in heat.
Humidity in the 90s is fine, there is no need to lower it.
Humidity in the 90s is fine, there is no need to lower it.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers
Re: New Crabbitat
Thank you soo much for the advicecurlysister wrote:Those look like the heat mats that have a sticky side, which unfortunately can't be insulated over top. Instead of a heat lamp, I would add some insulation - you can add it to the areas of the back and sides where there is no UTH. You can also add it to the top, or put a folded up blanket on the top to help hold in heat.
Humidity in the 90s is fine, there is no need to lower it.
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