Winter drop/Night drop (temps)

[hprmom]

We're moving into the time of year when our house temperature consistently drops below 75F (I know, Florida problems, LOL). With the house temp at 75, our 65g is usually around 79-81. Now we're seeing night temps in the tank in the low- to mid-70s, with the daytime highs still reaching 79. I expect it will get cooler as the winter comes on. Our crabs are still active, so I haven't felt a need to insulate yet, but I want to be prepared and have an idea when to start taking measures.

1) If you practice a "winter drop" in temperature (giving your crabs a winter), what temperature range do you aim for?

2) At what temperature do you notice your crabs disappear for the winter, v. still being active on the surface?

3) If you practice a "night drop" in temperature, how many degrees below your "day" temperature do you let the temp fall? This question is for all year round, not just a winter question. During the six months when our air conditioning is running, our tank is consistently 80F around the clock, so I would actually have to turn my heater OFF to get a night drop (therefore I haven't bothered). But right now a night drop is happening automatically, since the house falls below 75F at night, and the UTH only raises the temp 4-5 degrees above the house temp.

Thanks for any info/insight!

[GotButterflies]

I also live in Florida! I typically stay in mid 80s for my tank. I recently upgraded to 100gallons, and noticed my zoo med uth allowed my temp to fall to 79 at night, so I recently bought a Uth from reptile basics. I personally don't like my crabs experiencing a winter, but that's me. I think a couple degrees drop at night would be okay though!


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[mlakers]

I do let my tank get a little cooler in the winter. I live near Buffalo, so even with my Ultratherm and three sides insulated with aluminum foil topped by fibreboard insulation wrapped in silver duct tape it tends to happen naturally. I have the heat pad on a thermostat, but even so, nights get cooler in the tat because my house gets so cool. My winter temps are generally in the range of 79-80 for daytime and no lower than 77 at night. During really cold times I also plug in a ZooMed UTH that I have on one end. Once the daytime temps get below 80, mine tend to go down for a molt.

[Rawrgeous]

I don't really give my crabs a winter, but they seem to know it's winter time anyways. They eat a lot less, and I expect most of them to start going down here soon. From what I have gathered though, even in winter months it is rare for the temp to drop below 77 in their natural habitats.

[hprmom]

Thanks, everyone, that's a good range of responses.

@GotButterflies, 100 gallons! *swoon*!

@mlakers, that's a lot of insulation, whew! I'm impressed you can keep your temps that high. Your winter temps are pretty close to my summer temps! My crabs must be accustomed to it being cooler, then, because I'm rarely above 81 and they're still active above ground at night (at least half go under during the day, though).

@Rawrgeous (I still pronounce it "raw-gorgeous", lol), 77 for a low, that's two votes so I think I need to start looking at insulation now. We're already dipping to 77 if not cooler.

Thanks again, all.

[hprmom]

Oh boy, I asked this question just in time! We are cold over here... for Florida, lol. It was unexpected so we threw a few towels over the tank, and our day temp is holding at 80F, a good 9 degrees higher than the house temp; and as far as I know didn't go below 77 last night. When we adopted most of our crabs last Feb/March, they were living on un-heated back patios with temps dipping to the 50s! There's crazy condensation all over the glass (inside), I guess that's due to the temperature difference between the house and tank interior. Not a crab in sight.

[Just Jay]

im so glad you asked this. i live in LA so close to Florida and my house doesnt have central heating or air, so my crabs are currently going threw winter as well. during the day the tank is 80d and at night its also about 76-78d. i use a uth behind the tank and an over head 100w light (two actually, one white during the day and a red at night) on a clamp. this friday im going to try and get some coco matting that you would use for a plant box and insulate my tank. figured if i spray with salt water it wont mold, the crabs can climb on it and it will help hold heat. they might also eat it...they eat the netting i put in sometimes. i will let you know if i notice a change in temp after i do it if you like.

[hprmom]

this friday im going to try and get some coco matting that you would use for a plant box and insulate my tank. figured if i spray with salt water it wont mold, the crabs can climb on it and it will help hold heat. they might also eat it...they eat the netting i put in sometimes. i will let you know if i notice a change in temp after i do it if you like.

I hadn't considered coco fiber for insulating from the inside, I'd love to know how that works, thanks!

Another thing I'm noticing is that the sub along the back wall where the UTH is located is drying out more quickly than usual. I usually stir up and re-moisten (with a mist bottle) the top couple of inches in a strip about two inches wide along the back every 3-4 weeks, but I just did it a week ago and it's already drying out.

[Just Jay]

Ive been reading and found adding more sub can help. Doing that as we speak. And that during winter the top layer or so will dry. The important fact is the bottom being a sandcastle consistent.

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[hprmom]

Yup, we just checked that last week, by taping two smoothie straws together into a "dipstick" and pushing that all the way to the bottom in a couple of places around the tank. The holes stayed open, so we're good. I used to worry about the top layer, but realized that our crabs don't hang out there, anyway!

[Kermie16]

Yup, we just checked that last week, by taping two smoothie straws together into a "dipstick" and pushing that all the way to the bottom in a couple of places around the tank. The holes stayed open, so we're good. I used to worry about the top layer, but realized that our crabs don't hang out there, anyway!

Ditto here. I've noticed the top layer a little more drier than normal. But under that everything looks good. I've got practically my whole tat covered in reflectix right now. Everything but the top and front 1/3rd glass to maintain heat at 82. Although I would prefer to have the front cover off so I can watch them better at night, I have a feeling they are loving all the coverage


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[Just Jay]

Yup, we just checked that last week, by taping two smoothie straws together into a "dipstick" and pushing that all the way to the bottom in a couple of places around the tank. The holes stayed open, so we're good. I used to worry about the top layer, but realized that our crabs don't hang out there, anyway!

Ditto here. I've noticed the top layer a little more drier than normal. But under that everything looks good. I've got practically my whole tat covered in reflectix right now. Everything but the top and front 1/3rd glass to maintain heat at 82. Although I would prefer to have the front cover off so I can watch them better at night, I have a feeling they are loving all the coverage


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they are probably having a private hermie party!

[Kermie16]

Lol! No doubt, Just Jay!


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