HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Heyo. So I'm wanting to turn the temp up on the tat a bit, it's seemed to stabilize to about 77 at its lowest and 82ish at its highest. Humidity is about 75-85 so that's fine. BUT i figure that a little more heat and it might get them out and about more. That being said. I have a 48 inch tank, so if i get a 11x47 it'll cover the whole entire back, and pretty much all the space between the top and the substrate, in a couple places going below just a bit. it will also be right up against one of the water dishes (picture attached below) is it going to be a big deal if like 10-12 inches of the UTH is right next to the pool area. Or should I get one that's 11x35 instead, and leave the whole backside of the pool area free of the UTH, and just have the rest of the tank covered.

As you can see the pools are side by side in regards to one in front of each other, so the front will be ok, but the back part would be covered by the UTH, and it's literally right next to the glass as you can see in the pic.
The length from the end of the tank, and to where the end of the marbles/egg crate wall is, is exactly 12 inches. and with the 11" UTH it would come down about 2" below top of the water dish.

My inner me is saying go big or go home just get the big one, but about 5% of perhaps common sense is saying obviously just get the 11x35 instead.



Also saw this little bugger take off a part of the plastic plant. Then proceed to rip and scissor pieces of it off just to make a mess. But he's my fave so its OK

I think you'd be okay getting the larger UTH. It'll probably raise your temp 4-5 degrees. I wouldn't worry about it being close to the water dishes.

He went back and pulled it up out of the ground. Now I think he's just being a jerk.

And this little climber.

I have a considerably smaller tank than yours, a 30x12x18 29g, but opted for an Ultratherm shorter than the full length. The 11x23 goes right down to the top of the 7" substrate but leaves 7" of the length unheated. This creates a bit of a "cool" spot, if you can call 80-82 degrees "cool", and lets the crabs experience a bit of a temperature drop. The unheated strip is where the hanging moss pit and shell shop are situated. The pools are in the heated area, side by side along the 12" width, with the SW pool about 1" away from the back wall. To be honest, I haven't noticed that it heats the pool to any extent.

Frankly, we're both in Arizona so I don't worry about the crabitat getting too cold; the ambient temperature of my house is maintained at 70 degrees in winter and 81 in summer so the UTH provides more than enough additional heat in the cooler months and keeps the tank at "just right" temps in the warmer months.

also I wonder if it would create too much extra humidity and then cause my suction cups to slide. hmmmm.....

probably just go with the bigger one to get the most out of it. They might be sad, taking away their view of the backyard though :/ They do tend to spend a lot of time against the back pane of glass looking into the back. But I would like the extra degrees

Well you could always get a tank topper and give them a view of their back yard domain... Plus it is a good excuse to go out and buy some more hermie supplies.

well I think I must of made up my mind at some point yesterday after posting this.. After a few rounds of drinks last night. Apparently I bought the 11x47, it'll be here next week, lol. hopefully it'll work fine in regards to the pools and my suction cups.

You have a strawberry hermit crab. Where did you get him?

yeah I've got 6 or 7 in there. not sure. I got them from a local petstore along with some other members here on the forum. the store supposedly got them from another place who were trying to order marine crabs and got those somehow, so it was a mistake order. I just happened to walk into the petstore when they randomly had them. Looking back I wish i would of gotten all of them and then given them to people here on the forum. I didn't know how rare/expensive they are at the time when i found them. I was actually going in to inquire about them to see if they could order them and then they showed me a tank just full of them. I was surprised to say the least. BUT as far as i'm aware they haven't been able to get them again or anything else. As I've asked. but perhaps someone else knows more than me about this pet shop. I think hermit yote? but there are places online that you can order straws if i'm not mistaken, I'm sure someone can chime in with a place, but a lot of places seem to be not in the trade or getting out. So uhh yeah i dunno.

Uth just showed up that was fast. Combo shot with my 2 e's napping in the cholla wood.