Worried about Thanksgiving Conditions - advice on heating?

[NintenDani]

I have four small crabs in a 10 gallon: Frodo, Samwise, Merry and Pippin. We live in Michigan, and due to circumstances out of our control, we had to move to a new apartment in August. It has worked out for the best; we love it here! But as Michigan weather has gotten colder, we've run into some problems. The apartment heat is either 80F or 60F, making it pretty uncomfortable for myself. We constant adjusting the thermostat to try to keep things around 70F!

As for the crabs, between UTH on the terrarium wall and a 20W sun bulb on during the day, we are able to keep the tank around 77-78F during the day, and just a touch cooler at night when the lamp isn't on.

On Wednesday, I am heading to my hometown to spend the Thanksgiving Holiday with my family. I was planning on leaving the crabs here with a well stocked tank, but because of the apartment's heat, I am really worried about leaving them alone for a few days. If the apartment's heat drops to 60 and stays there, even with the heat/lamp, I think the tank will become too cold.

I feel there really isn't a good way to solve this issue (except for me staying here for the Holiday, which quite frankly, I really don't want to do). I thought about taking them with, but I figure the move would be more traumatizing then living in cold tank for three days. Has anyone dealt with similar conditions? Advice please !

[cRABB3R&w[]FE]

Get another UTH and put it on the front side of the tank, since your not going to be home.... You won't mind not being able to see through it

I actually use 10x20 heating mats from the gardening industry and they are much cheaper at least in my experience and work really well, I've had one for almost 10 years lol

[wodesorel]

Have you insulated the tank yet? That will help steady the heat all the time and you can cover over the front and top while you're gone just for safety.