HCA: Hermit Crab Association

After reading through the care pages as suggested I have realized I need to make some important changes in my crabs homes.

1. I need to know if it safe to dig up the substrate because I have multiple crabs that have dug?

1. I need to move heating pads to back and sides right now they are under the sand
2. I need to add soaking pools to the tank but they are to tall to leave above the sand
3. I need to change the sand out for a better healthier substrate.
Thank you in advance!

Can you unplug and abandon the existing heating pad and install something like an ultratherm on the outside/back of the tank. Mounted center, up as high as it will go on the back is what you want.

I wouldn't dig unless it's an emergency situation. Wait till each pops up and move them into a temporary enclosure so you can work on the main tank.

Thank you so much!!!

Hello! Here are my answers:

1. Do not dig up the substrate when any crabs are digging. You could accidentally disturb them and ruin their molt. And you could even collapse their tunnel.

I am not completely sure these are questions, but I am going to say they are..

1. Do you mean that it is inside the tank under the sand?? Or do you mean it is under the tank???

2. I would wait until all of your crabs resurface before you put the pools in the sand. You will probably need to stick with the pools you currently have for now.

3. Unless the sand is calcium sand, you do not need to replace it. Most crab keepers here use sand or a sand/ecoearth mixture. Sand is fine to use, and isn’t not healthy. Just ask the veteran crabbers here..

Well sadly due to Being misinformed the heaters are under the sand not the tank and it is calcium sand. I’m concerned they will get to hot under the sand now.


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