Help Template
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 8:09 pm
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
I use regular play sand and it's 4-5 inches deep.
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?
My gauge for temp and humidity are near the top of the tank and they read 70 F and 70-75 humidity most of the time.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I use a 70 watt heat lamp to heat the tank, using a blue bulb in the daytime and a red one at night.
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 1 freshwater dish and 2 salt water dishes. I use the Prime Concentrated Conditioner for fresh water (the normal ratio I would use for my freshwater fish tanks) and Fluker's Hermit Headquarters soaking salt (1 tsp per 1 cup of dechlorinated water)
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I replace the food every night and I mix it around every night, using cuttlebone, meats, fruits, and veggies.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I have had the crabs for 3 years and they are purple pincher hermit crabs.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He molted around 2-4 months ago, but never changed shells.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
They are in a 55 gal glass tank with a screen lid (one side of the lid is wrapped in saran wrap for humidity)
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have 3 crabs and 1 is still in 1/2 inch shell openings while the other two are in 2 1/2- 3 inch shell openings.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I have 9 extra shells, all the right size for them to go in next.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I clean my tank every 1-2 weeks by cleaning out the top layer of sand and any extra food. Once every 2 months I wash off the decorations also.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No, there aren't any sponges.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No.
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.)?
I don't do any playtime or bathing, but I always make sure their food dish is cleaned and they have water deep enough to bathe in.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
My 2 big crabs are crowding around the smaller one, and whenever he tries to change shells, they start to walk towards him and scare him. I haven't heard any chirping or seen them touch him yet, but I'm worried they will get more aggressive. I have also never had these problems in my tank before.
I use regular play sand and it's 4-5 inches deep.
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?
My gauge for temp and humidity are near the top of the tank and they read 70 F and 70-75 humidity most of the time.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I use a 70 watt heat lamp to heat the tank, using a blue bulb in the daytime and a red one at night.
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 1 freshwater dish and 2 salt water dishes. I use the Prime Concentrated Conditioner for fresh water (the normal ratio I would use for my freshwater fish tanks) and Fluker's Hermit Headquarters soaking salt (1 tsp per 1 cup of dechlorinated water)
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I replace the food every night and I mix it around every night, using cuttlebone, meats, fruits, and veggies.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I have had the crabs for 3 years and they are purple pincher hermit crabs.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He molted around 2-4 months ago, but never changed shells.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
They are in a 55 gal glass tank with a screen lid (one side of the lid is wrapped in saran wrap for humidity)
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have 3 crabs and 1 is still in 1/2 inch shell openings while the other two are in 2 1/2- 3 inch shell openings.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I have 9 extra shells, all the right size for them to go in next.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I clean my tank every 1-2 weeks by cleaning out the top layer of sand and any extra food. Once every 2 months I wash off the decorations also.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No, there aren't any sponges.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No.
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.)?
I don't do any playtime or bathing, but I always make sure their food dish is cleaned and they have water deep enough to bathe in.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
My 2 big crabs are crowding around the smaller one, and whenever he tries to change shells, they start to walk towards him and scare him. I haven't heard any chirping or seen them touch him yet, but I'm worried they will get more aggressive. I have also never had these problems in my tank before.
I'm not kidding. Pretty much anything on the market for hermit crabs isn't safe for them. It's sad. You need to get Instant Ocean. That is a product that you use to make Marine Salt Water. (So basically you are trying to mimic the ocean water for the crabs). Follow the instructions on the box
You can moisten it with dechlorinated fresh water or dechlorinated marine salt water. (ALSO - ARE YOUR DISHES deep enough for the crabbies to submerge in? Hermits need to be able to fully submerge in their water bowls, and they need to be able get out of them too. A lot of us use tupperware containers as water bowls (The disposable kind). Then, you can use aquarium decor or craft mesh for safety.