Heat variables in tank

[casssch]

What's an acceptable temp variance in the crabitat? By the heater it's barely 80, and barely 70 at the front of the tank. Both temps were taken middle of the tank. I know I need to do more insulating (I have Ultratherm, foil, cardboard wrapped in foil) somehow because today was a warmer day than usual and that could also be affecting the temp in the tank. However, I don't know how I can fix the temp at the front of the tank and still be able to see in. I also have a Zoomed heater on one of the sides.

[YYWW]

As long as crabs are going all over the tank you are good to go. If the crabs are all sticking near the heater then you should notice the need for more heat.
Heat variances exist in nature all over. In the sun, in the shade, in water, in the dirt, up in trees... Hermit crabs are crafty and will move where they want to. As long as you provide the means, let them show you what they need


Crabbers unite!!!

[wodesorel]

70 is a bit chilly for any species. It know it's hard because of winter! If you bump the heat up in the back then the heat at the front will also rise. My 10 gallon is 90 on the back wall, 86 in the moss pit where they spend the most time, and then 77 at the very front of the glass. They do travel all over the tank daily.

[casssch]

We haven't gotten our crabs yet, so I can't check activity to see how it goes. I'll try to do some more insulating and see how that goes. Would it help any at all to insulate around the substrate on the sides and front of the tank? Or does it only work to insulate where the heater is?

[wodesorel]

If you don't mind the look of it, the more of the tank you can insulate, the more heat will be kept inside, like a greenhouse.

[casssch]

As long as we can still see above the substrate at the front of the tank, I don't mind. The kids don't need to see the dirt, and the only spot really accessible to them is the front. Would you do foil around the substrate, or just cardboard/foam?

[wodesorel]

Foam will hold in more heat.

Crabbymom33 did the best job (I think) when she insulated her 29 gallon a few years back:

[aussieJJDude]

Wod something that I have often seen but had no prior knowledge too. Would insulating the substrate influence the tank temperature? Or is it more to keep the sub warmer?

[wodesorel]

It should do both - keep the substrate warmer and in turn help the tank temp rise.

When I did this:


It gave me a full 10 degrees more heat.

[casssch]

What is that? I just took off the cardboard I had and replaced it with foam board wrapped in foil, and put foam board around the substrate as well. Hopefully this will give me the rest of the boost it needs.

[wodesorel]

Emergency mylar blanket from a first aid kit. It's not durable, but in a pinch it can really boost heat on a tank. (It also looks like Jiffy-Pop. )

[casssch]

It's up a couple more degrees now, in the back only, but now the humidity in the back is shot-40%. I have pools on the side with the zoomed heater and a moss pit on the front. The front of the tank reads 90% humidity, but still only 70 degrees. Should I just expect the humidity to be low where the heat is or do I need to somehow fix it?

[casssch]

The back of the tank is reading at 90 degrees with 40-50% humidity, and the front says 70 degrees with 90% humidity. It's only a 20 gallon tall, how can that much variation exist in such a small space?

[Charper]

Wod, I did that same thing with an emergency blanket! It's a really great fix if you need quick heat.


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