HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I am new I am planing on geting hermits but I need to know what would be a good day light. And what kind of sand should I get

welcome to the HCA!

you can get playsand quite cheaply at a hardware store. be sure to wet it to sand castle consitancy so the crabs can dig tunnels.

i don't use a lamp because it tends to lower humidity. instead, I use a UTH (under tank heater) on the side of my 20 gallon tank to keep it warm.

Caroline

Hi and welcome to the HCA! if you meen a non heat light then a 15 watt flouresent bulb would work, I bought a double socket Aqauriam Dock and I put a Repti-Glo 2.0 and a Repti-Sun 5.0 for two different UV ranges. Like annopia said you can use a heating pad for heating, howver I have not had as much luck with UTH's as I have had with lights for heating ( sorry to contridict) If you have a suppliment for humidity like an air stone or humidifeir than humdity should not be an issue. You can get play sand at a hardware store for $10 for 50 lbs. Personally I use crushed coral which IMO is alot mor natural then Playsand, and on a side note they can eat it for calciam. You can find it at a aqauriam fish store.

thanks guys that helps what would be better a screen top or a glass top

I prefer a glass lid though more expensive than a screen lid it retains a lot more humidity and heat although you can put plastic wrap over a screen lid.

I prefur a glass lid though more expenzive than a screen lid it retans a lot more humidity and heat. However a nice little set up would be to have a glass plate for two thirds of your tank and have a screen lid on top. This way you would have air flow and you would still be able to keep in humdity well.

Silent Protagonist wrote:I prefur a glass lid though more expenzive than a screen lid it retans a lot more humidity and heat although you can put plastic wrap over a screen lid.

you can also go to a hardware store like lowes and have either a glass or plexiglass lid cut to the size of the tank. i have a plexiglass lid, although they aren't too good if you have a light right up on them, they tend to warp.

Caroline

what would be a good size hermit crab to start out with

I'd start out with maybe small or medium crabs, and I would get Purple Pinchers, they are good starter crabs because they are really hardy (and also my favorite species). I would not get an exotic crab like a strawberry because they have special needs. you can tell purple pinchers apart from other crab because their larger pincher is purple (hence the name )

Caroline

It's a good idea to get your tank ready and give the heat and humidity time to stabilize before bringing your crabs home. Sometimes the fine-tuning can be pretty tricky and it's best not to let your crabs ride the rollercoaster in their first week in their new home. Sounds like you are doing your homework! Good job! Welcome.

Hi and welcome to the HCA!

annopia's advice about Purple Pincher crabs is excellent! You also don't want to get just one crab. Despite the name, hermies are social animals and like to live in groups. So when you get your crabs, get two or three!

Yes, PPs are hardy. My first two crabs spent a year in a cold basement in a gravel filled critter carrier w/ no saltwater and low-quality commercial food. I was shocked that they had lived so long in such poor conditions before they came to live w/ me.

Welcome! Kudos for doing your homework before getting your crabs! My 1st crabs were a surprise gift, so I was not so prepared.

I agree with everyone else. PPs are a good, hardy starter crab. Two or three would be best.

I personally like light for heat. I'm in the northeast and a UTH just doesn't cut it for me. But you have to choose what's right for you.

Play around with things in your tat to see what works before you get your crabs. You can always ask for more advice or look up a thread in the crabitat conditions section.

Don't forget to look through the food and water posts as well. Good to know what you're doing there before you start!

how many watts should I get for the under tank heater with a 10 gallon tank??