HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Last week I added a 2nd Level moss pit using a shower caddy and fishing net as climbing material. I used the Exo Terra brand moss. I put an eggshell in a food dish as a draw to the pit, but they don't seem too keen on climbing the net to get there. I also have a log with some artificial vines as another climbing option, but they don't seem to use that either. When I first introduced the pit into the 'tat, I placed the crabs on the climbing log and it seemed as soon as they hit the moss, they basically scurried and almost jumped out.

Anything I can do to help them like the moss pit?

Substrate: Sand/EE 50/50

Humidity: Reading ~70-78% (I need to calibrate because there is a lot of moisture on the glass in the tat)

Temperature: ~72 on the cool side ~Right at 80 on the warm side.

i put my moss pit right on the substrate and it seems to be going over well.
I'm working on a 2nd level but maybe try to put a little on the lower level
and see how they react.

I'd suggest bumping your temps up to at least 80. Mid 80's would be best. Give them more time to get acclimated to it as well.

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I'm in the process of getting another heat source. I have 2 lamps going now, but the UTH I had on the side stopped working for some odd reason

I'm jealous of the second level. I've been wanting to add something similar but have yet to shop for it. I have a moss pit on ground level using a Tupperware dish in the sub. The crabs avoided mine for the first 2-3 weeks but for the last week it's been a big hit. So maybe they just need some time to get acclimated to it.


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My crabs love my second level moss pit. I have wet spaghnum moss and my pit is placed on the side over the heater pad. Maybe give them time to adjust?

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MrTeacherDude wrote:Last week

Give them more time. Sometimes the crabbies just take a while to find and adjust to a new thing. Adding some more cover may help too. Fake plants are a cheap way of accomplishing this.

There was sand and EE in the moss pit this morning. I guess that's a good of a sign as any that they were at least exploring it!

MrTeacherDude wrote:There was sand and EE in the moss pit this morning. I guess that's a good of a sign as sang that they were at least exploring it!

Yay!!!

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It took about a week for mine to check it out, found "Maple" in there this morning

Mine also do not seem enamoured of the moss caddy/hemp net set up... here's hoping they come round like yours! (They are quite new to the tank.)

LJJ

Maybe try putting a big bamboo shoot in the tank next to it. I have a small bamboo shoot in my tank and they love climbing it . I've seen shoots big enough for the tank you have too . They may just climb it and go in . Maybe they just need a different thing to climb to entice them a little .My oldest crab paco loves climbing it and hanging off the leaves lol

Oh they've come around to love the moss pit. 3/4 are in there daily.

Geez, My two attempts to post my reply got deleted!! Perhaps this try will be the charm!! My crabbies love their corner shower caddy (Amazon) moss pit (suction cupped to the tank) It's placed low enough from the screen top so they can enter by climbing up a 1" thick woody grape vine (from my garden) thats top end is twisted (from being wrapped around the trellis it grew up on) and sort of hooks onto the top of the caddy making it a great stable ladder as well a a favored perch. The eco moss is filled to the very top and always keep moist. They all burrow in the moss and sometimes stay there all day!
I've noticed they go there when the humidity is at the low end. I often wonder if the fish net may be too unstable for then to climb up??? I tried reptile net with the caddy and it was not stabilized on the bottom and not used. The do climb up reptile netting thats used as a climbing wall (secured with suction cup on top and bottom)! When I changed to the grape vine, they all use it and even perch on the nubby/like top. Hope this info might help the disinterested crabbies realize some high rise moss pit love.