HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I'm wondering if it's okay to get an ultratherm that's a little bit too long for my tank, and just wrap the excess around the sides.

The tank is 30.25" long, and the ultratherm options are either 23" which I think will be too short, or 35" which is too long. It will only overhang by a couple of inches, but I'm wondering if this will be a problem.

I got an ultratherm for my 10G and one for my 40G, but my brother has decided he would like to adopt hermit crabs too, so I'm getting him a 20GL setup for Christmas and giving him 2 of my 6 crabs.

I have everything already, I just need the ultratherm.

ALSO, I haven't hooked up my ultratherm yet, are they sticky on the back like other undertank heaters?

I think they are NOT sticky, because there is a post about how to attach them. Most suggested using double sided tape. I am getting one for my new 55 gallon build.

As for size, the 23" would give them a "cooler" side to the tank, so they have a choice of the temp they want to hang out in. I would be afraid to damage the internal structure of the 35" by bending it around the corner.

Ditto on what hermieluv1 wrote. They're not sticky and come in a stiff, transparent piece. Ultratherms are precious! 23" on a 30" is just fine. Stick it on and insulate the whole thing. You wont go wrong!


Crabbers unite!!!

YYWW wrote:Ditto on what hermieluv1 wrote. They're not sticky and come in a stiff, transparent piece. Ultratherms are precious! 23" on a 30" is just fine. Stick it on and insulate the whole thing. You wont go wrong!


Crabbers unite!!!

Now when it comes to insulating..
I heard you put tinfoil onto the back of it and then cover it in styrofoam?

Is there another way to insulate it?

Insulating blocks the cold, reflects heat, and seals heat.
Aluminum foil and emergency blankets use a shiny material to conduct and reflect the heat, in hopes of doubling up on heating ability. This may help raise temperature, and is most effective as close to the heat source as possible.
Styrofoam and cardboard are solid pieces that seal the whole thing shut, helping trap the heat in, and keeping the cold away.
You can use things like slabs of wood, towels, saran wrap, etc in whatever formation suits you, but the order that you apply your elements can make your efforts more efficient. Insulation board from the hardware store might be most effective, but you might not be in the market for it. Just take a look at what you have available and make the most of it!


Crabbers unite!!!

The internal wires can snap or short if they are bent, so they have to be kept flat.

My ultra therm is too long for my tank by about 6inches. I have 3in hang in both sides. Ive only had it for 2days, but I havent had any problems with letting it hang. Right now im not insulating. Its just stuck with packing tape. Currently theres a pretty drastic gradiant in my 20L tank with it being 79-82 in the back to 73-75 in the front. Humidity is the usuall 95-99 on my heavier ee side, my heavier sand side is dipping down to 83-88 though depending where the gauge is set.

The ulta therm is really drying everything out in the back od my tank. My moss pit that is usually saturated was bone dry this morning :/

Going to rearrange the tank and put it closer to the front to see if that keeps it from drying out
Too bad I have half my colony down right or id mix my substrate too >. < dang crabs!

Will the ultratherm still dry out the tank if it's kept above the substrate?
That's what I've been having the biggest problem with is my tank getting dried out as I'm currently using a heat lamp.
I mixed and wet my substrate and within 12 hours all 7" was bone dry, right to the bottom. The crabs can't dig and that's not good!

I just put the ultratherm on my 10G this morning and it's JUST above the substrate, thank goodness.
Is it going to dry everything out like the heat lamp did???

Heat from any source will always cause evaporation, which is how the air in the tank remains humid. It becomes even more of a challenge to keep that moist air in the tank winter when the furnace is running and the air outside the tank is bone dry. You can seal the tank up as tight as you can (not really recommended since the crabs do need to breathe!) or you can spray, use a humidifier or add water as needed. It's never going to be completely fuss-free, but with some experimentation you should be able to figure out a way to keep the humidity stable and the substrate moist on a regular basis. In summer I never have to touch my tanks, but in winter I go through gallons every week to keep the humidity stable. (Inside the tank it's 80%, in the house it's 16% - you can see why it's so hard!)

Heat lamps def dry more than UTHs. Good luck!


Crabbers unite!!!

wodesorel wrote:Heat from any source will always cause evaporation, which is how the air in the tank remains humid. It becomes even more of a challenge to keep that moist air in the tank winter when the furnace is running and the air outside the tank is bone dry. You can seal the tank up as tight as you can (not really recommended since the crabs do need to breathe!) or you can spray, use a humidifier or add water as needed. It's never going to be completely fuss-free, but with some experimentation you should be able to figure out a way to keep the humidity stable and the substrate moist on a regular basis. In summer I never have to touch my tanks, but in winter I go through gallons every week to keep the humidity stable. (Inside the tank it's 80%, in the house it's 16% - you can see why it's so hard!)

That makes a lot of sense, humidity in the winter is brutal.
I bought a new top for the tank, it's glass and it seals tightly (there is a plastic part at the back that I drilled some holes in) so I'm hoping that will help, I bought some new moss and a new container to make a bigger moss pit, and I'm adding more EE to the substrate to help it hold more moisture.

Regardless of all these issues, the crabs still seem happy and active, so that's good!