HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I'm one the n00bs. No hermits yet, still trying to get the tank right!

Has anyone ever tried taping insulation to the outside of their tank? I'm considering adding some to the back of the tank to keep heat from escaping. I'm a bit hesitant to use a heat lamp (with dimmer switch seems the best option) but I just don't want too many things plugged into the wall socket. I already have a heat pad on the side of the tank.

My humidity is off the charts so still trying to figure the best amount of plexiglass to have over the mesh screen top.

I have a 29 gallon tank with a mesh lid and 4 towels and a blanket in top. Works great. I see the temp between 82-85 normally. As for humidity, misting/ spraying from a spray bottle 1-2 times a day works well. Hope this helps!


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I use foam boards on the sides of my tank. It's ugly, but it will do for now. Still seeking out ideas to get it perfect for my new tank! I'm thinking with my radiant heat panel, it shouldn't have any problems keeping up with the heat! I'm not a fan of the heat pads honestly, but they're cheap.

Breeezy wrote:I use foam boards on the sides of my tank.

I was looking at some bubble pack insulation online, I was thinking I could put a nice background picture between the tank and insulation, place the bubble pack and then use the insulation tape to keep it all in place...
http://www.amazon.com/Reflectix-BP24025 ... ubble+wrap

I saw some of those pink foam insulation boards at Home Depot today - is that what you used? And how did you attach it?

I use a foam poster board, it's cheap. Mine was white and didn't like the white look, so put brown wrapping paper over it. One year I just let grandkids draw on it (: It works good. when I put it on the back where I have heater I cut 2 strips about an inch wide and put on back corners, then when I put foam board on back the smaller pieces kept it from touching the heater and created a pocket to hold the warm air. I did wrap my foam board in a heavy duty foil on the pieces that was being used over the heater.

What I ended up with:
SIDES: a heating pad on the left side, placed just where the substrate stops and one on the right as well
BACK: an aquarium background attached to the back with glue dots, then a layer of bubble wrap insulation taped down neatly with masking tape.
TOP: Screen top. Plexiglass cut to size to fit on top of the screen.
LIGHT/HEAT: 75 watt day bulb, 75 watt moonlight/warmth bulb

Moving the light around the tank can make the temps go from 84-88 and humidity is 75-85.

I put my insulation board right over the heaters plus all other sides except front.