HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So here is the moss pit:



It is approximately 4" deep, plastic, that is. Is this the right amount of moss? I have 2 tinys, 3 smalls, and my two adoptees are mediums bordering on larges. I am concerned that in my 20 gal long, the almost larges are going to be able to ESCAPE!! When suction cup mounted, the pit top is roughly 2.5" from the top of the tank.

Also, do I need to provide a way for the smalls to climb in and out, or will they figure it out? The container itself does have holes on it for them to use to climb, but only on the front of the container. Right now I have a piece of cholla wood propped up in the corner so they could climb it and get in. But will they get stuck in there?

Thanks!

For ease of access, you could add a section of plastic/silk vine or fish net. I've done this by either threading the stiff end of the vine in and out of two of the holes or tying on a strip of net. Small clear plastic zip-ties are also perfect for attaching things.

I have a large crab that is easily able to push open the lid of his tank (since I have a climbing wall background). That's why I've just resorted to putting weights on top. I use ankle weights since they're pretty heavy and distribute the weight across the whole lid. Make sure the weights make it hard for even you to lift though because if one manages to lift it incompletely then something happens and the lid falls on the crab, that could end real bad. It doesn't need to be like 20 lbs on each side though. I don't know how much they can lift, but 5 lb ankle weights will probably suffice.

Your moss pit looks fine though - looks like mine but larger. Just make sure there's enough for them to actually get out of the pit once they're in (especially those tinies and smalls). Either add more moss as padding or padding or vines like Crabinski said. When the crabs crawl in it, it's gonna compress a little.

Crabinski wrote:For ease of access, you could add a section of plastic/silk vine or fish net. I've done this by either threading the stiff end of the vine in and out of two of the holes or tying on a strip of net. Small clear plastic zip-ties are also perfect for attaching things.

I have that plastic needlepoint stuff from the craft store. Should I zip tie it to the outside, or the inside of the pit?
Thank you!!

The Franckinator wrote:I have a large crab that is easily able to push open the lid of his tank (since I have a climbing wall background). That's why I've just resorted to putting weights on top. I use ankle weights since they're pretty heavy and distribute the weight across the whole lid. Make sure the weights make it hard for even you to lift though because if one manages to lift it incompletely then something happens and the lid falls on the crab, that could end real bad. It doesn't need to be like 20 lbs on each side though. I don't know how much they can lift, but 5 lb ankle weights will probably suffice.

Thanks for the advice!
I am constantly struggling to keep my cats off the top. They like the blankets i have on the top, and it's warm, so it must be a cat bed. :roll: I want to construct a tiered shelf over the summer so that the tank fits but not the cats. Weights sound like a great plan.
Thx again!

Unless the crab has some urgent reason to do so, I don't think he or she will deliberately try to lift a lid that won't come off easy. That's what I'm hoping on at least [WHITE SMILING FACE] Have fun!

crabby_D wrote:I have that plastic needlepoint stuff from the craft store. Should I zip tie it to the outside, or the inside of the pit?
Thank you!!

Attach it to the outside and maybe anchor the other end to make a bridge or ramp. If you make it long enough to form a ramp, the loose end could be held down on the substrate by a rock .

This fish net or needlepoint stuff...where can I find it and what's it called? You said craft store - would Michael's have it?

crabby_D wrote:

So here is the moss pit:



It is approximately 4" deep, plastic, that is. Is this the right amount of moss? I have 2 tinys, 3 smalls, and my two adoptees are mediums bordering on larges. I am concerned that in my 20 gal long, the almost larges are going to be able to ESCAPE!! When suction cup mounted, the pit top is roughly 2.5" from the top of the tank.

Also, do I need to provide a way for the smalls to climb in and out, or will they figure it out? The container itself does have holes on it for them to use to climb, but only on the front of the container. Right now I have a piece of cholla wood propped up in the corner so they could climb it and get in. But will they get stuck in there?

Thanks!

If you have a regular aquarium, the crabs can climb up the sealant on the corners to get to your lid; so the fact that some kind of furnishing is 2 1/2 inches from the top probably doesn't really matter in terms of escape--unless it is positioned so close to the lid, and in such a way that it allows them to push on the lid from atop the thing in a way they couldn't do without it. Anyway, having a lid they can't easily open is a must whether you have furnishings up close to the lid or not, because they can get up there if they want to, trust me.

I've used those exact shower caddies (or whatever you want to call them) as shell shops, hung from zip ties along the side of the tank. The crabs have no trouble climbing the holes in the side. If you have this hung pretty high, they will of course need some way to reach it. And if you keep it quite full of moss, they usually have no trouble climbing the moss itself to get back out of a moss pit (and again, with this shower caddy, they can use the holes in the side to help get out, too).

The Franckinator wrote:This fish net or needlepoint stuff...where can I find it and what's it called? You said craft store - would Michael's have it?

Yes, I got mine at Walmart, but I am sure they would have it at Michael's, too. It's pretty handy stuff. I also put it in my deeper water dishes so my tinys don't get stuck in there. I trim the "grid" so the pokey stuff is smooth, althought I am not sure whether that would actually bother any of the crabs. It's pretty pliable.

Off to construct a ramp. I'll post pics when I'm done.

What you're looking for is plastic needlepoint "canvas." It's a flexible plastic grid, that you can cut into any shape and size and use to make handy "ladders" to things, or "climb-outs" for your water sources, if you need them. Because it is plastic, it doesn't encourage mold, and it's pretty easy to clean. After a while the crabs make the surface of it rough and then it can start being harder to really get clean, but since it is sold in packs, once it gets more mangled than you want to keep dealing with, you can just cut another piece and replace it.

Most craft stores, like Hobby Lobby (for sure), and I expect also Michael's, would have it. Wal-mart may, too, although I've never looked there.

The Franckinator wrote:This fish net or needlepoint stuff...where can I find it and what's it called? You said craft store - would Michael's have it?

As others have already said, craft mesh aka plastic canvas can be found at Walmart, Michael's, Jo-Ann and Hobby Lobby. Fish net (which I swear by as it's even more versatile than craft mesh) can be found at Michael's and Jo-Ann and probably at Hobby Lobby, too. It comes folded up in a plastic bag, usually about a 3'x5' piece for around $6. As it's genuine used fish net, it needs to be given a good soak in very hot water to remove any debris and some of the "fishiness" (not that the crabs would mind ). I love fish net to hang along the tank walls for climbing and hooking flowers and vines into. It's also an excellent "drape" to hang over a branch or from a second-level platform, moss pit or shell shop -- that'll not only provide something else to climb (and nap) on but also makes a little hiding spot!

Yes, Hobby Lobby has fish net; I've gotten some there. I had no idea it was used by actual fisherpeople, though, before being packed up and sold as decor. You learn something new every day, I guess!