HCA: Hermit Crab Association

This is the new tank, its huge. Do I have to use any sand. Or can I use all coconut fiber brown stuff? And if I have a fresh and salt water bubbler do I also have water dishes? Would they drink from the bubbler?


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Nice tank! How big is it? You can multiply LWH and divide that answer by 231 for total gallons.

Sub - can be straight eco earth (ee), straight play sand, or a combo of both.
Edit: ee must be fine kind not chunky kind.

Pools - they can't drink from bubblers. These just help with humidity and keep water fresh longer. Pools must be deep enough for them to fully submerge.

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By bubbler do you mean a dish deep enough for them to fully submerge? You can use just eco earth (brown stuff) but its more expensive. The sand makes it go further. The more crabs you have the more depth you'll need. Good luck can't wait to see it finished

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daws409 wrote:Nice tank! How big is it? You can multiply LWH and divide that answer by 231 for total gallons.

Sub - can be straight eco earth (ee), straight play sand, or a combo of both.
Edit: ee must be fine kind not chunky kind.

Pools - they can't drink from bubblers. These just help with humidity and keep water fresh longer. Pools must be deep enough for them to fully submerge.

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Its 65 gal. I have 7 bricks of eco earth coming. I'd like to have it be 12 in. Would the square Tupperware bowls work? And should there be any rocks in it?


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You can use pebbles, marbles, shells etc... Just make sure they have a way to escape. I suggest using doubled Tupperware. Bottom bowl is buried in sub and acts as a holder. Top bowls hold marbles, canvas, bubblers, and water.

*Edit: bottom bowl also has a thin layer of marbles in bottom. Pools don't have to be this big, just deep enough to fully submerge*

Here are my top bowls...





Here is a link to Doubled up Tupperware with bubblers: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... p?t=113691

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Many crabbers have found success using play sand and eco earth in a ratio of 5 play sand to 1 ee, mixed thoroughly and wet to sand castle consistency using SW.


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Straight ee is fine. Just most people go with a mix of the ratio mentioned a few times above as they feel like it holds better for their tunneling and moulting purposes...
To use the bubbles you must provide deep dishes anyway, which they need.... but no they don't drink from the bubbles, the bubbles are just used to provide a humidity boost

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aussieJJDude wrote:Straight we is fine. Just most people go with a mix of the ratio mentioned multiple times above as they feel like it holds b1etter for their tunneling and moulding purposes...
To use the bubbles you must provide deep dishes anyway, which they need.... but no they don't drink from the bubbles, the bubbles are just used to provide a humidity boost

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Also, if you're going with just eco earth... 7 bricks is not going to give you 10 in after settling.

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^^ Agreed! It took 23 bricks to do my 90G. I started with 12 inches and after a month it settled to 10... In my 40B, 8 bricks gave me 7 inches after settling... I suggest getting some play sand and mixing it. Adding sand will stretch the ee a bit!

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annedow9 wrote:

daws409 wrote:Nice tank! How big is it? You can multiply LWH and divide that answer by 231 for total gallons.

Sub - can be straight eco earth (ee), straight play sand, or a combo of both.
Edit: ee must be fine kind not chunky kind.

Pools - they can't drink from bubblers. These just help with humidity and keep water fresh longer. Pools must be deep enough for them to fully submerge.

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Its 65 gal. I have 7 bricks of eco earth coming. I'd like to have it be 12 in. Would the square Tupperware bowls work? And should there be any rocks in it?


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Would you mix them together or put sand on the bottom? And do you use play sand from Home Depot?


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annedow9 wrote: Would you mix them together or put sand on the bottom? And do you use play sand from Home Depot?

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Mixing it is up to you. Some do layers of sand, then ee, then sand, and so on. Just know that if you do the layers, it will eventually get mixed by the crabs. Most use 5:1 ratio (sand:ee). You just have to find what works for you!... Any play sand from Lowe's, home depot, or Wal-Mart will work. I personally like Wal-Mart's sand better cause it has less rocks/debris in it. And you can get a 50 lb bag for $3.23.



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I love Quickrete's All purpose sand. It has never had any rocks in it and it has a little more of a clay base to it. It's a little more expensive than the regular play sand. That is what I mix with EE.

GotButterflies wrote:I love Quickrete's All purpose sand. It has never had any rocks in it and it has a little more of a clay base to it. It's a little more expensive than the regular play sand. That is what I mix with EE.

Got it today at Home Depot. It was only $3.20 for 50 lbs. That was the biggest bargain yet. Thanks


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daws409 wrote:You can use pebbles, marbles, shells etc... Just make sure they have a way to escape. I suggest using doubled Tupperware. Bottom bowl is buried in sub and acts as a holder. Top bowls hold marbles, canvas, bubblers, and water.

*Edit: bottom bowl also has a thin layer of marbles in bottom. Pools don't have to be this big, just deep enough to fully submerge*

Here are my top bowls...





Here is a link to Doubled up Tupperware with bubblers: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... p?t=113691

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What is the white netting in the Bowl?


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