HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Good Afternoon! I have approx. 30 gallon breeder tank (36LX18WX13H ) I am using the Ultatherm heat mat along the back of the tank. The back stays at 80* but the front is about 72* I just purchased a thermostat online to try and get my temps a little higher in the front. Has anyone used a thermostat with an Ultrathem heat mat and how well did it work? Thx for any input.

I've never used a thermostat with my Ultratherm so can't be of help there but just wanted to note that my tank (29g) has a consistent 7 degree temperature difference between the warmer back and cooler front. As long as both readings are within the required range, I don't worry and, as the crabs hang out in both areas fairly equally, they probably like having that warmer/cooler variation.

That's what I was hoping but mine are always in the back under the hide against the tank wall. I thought I had read that it should always be close to at least 80* so I was going to try and make it around 77 in the front and approx 85* in the back. I was concerned 72* was to low. I'm so new to this....

Although 80 degrees is certainly within PP range, warmer is always better. Have you tried insulating the Ultratherm to boost the temperature? Place aluminum foil over the UTH, then a layer of cardboard. Members have also used a layer of styrofoam board between the foil and the cardboard. The following link is to just one of many threads on the topic:

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=103564&p=949037&hilit=insulating+Ultratherm#p949037

You can also wrap a throw or blanket around the back and sides of the tank. That's the method I'm using for the next few weeks until I have to turn the heat on in my house (I live in Arizona so it never gets that cold). Using just that lightweight velour throw has boosted the front of the tank 7 degrees above ambient room temperature and the back of the tank 11 degrees so right now, with no heat on in the house and no permanent insulation on the Ultratherm, the tank is holding at 75 in the front and 83 in the back.

A thermostat cannot raise temps - it can only lower them and hold it steady. The max temp is based on whatever your heating unit can produce on its own.