HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I am not sure if I want to use a heating pad. Its a fire hazard, and after reading the instructions, my crabs could get burned if they touch the glass over the pad. I know I could get a carpet for the inside. What are some alternatives? I'm afraid that a heat lamp might dehydrate them. Has anyone ever tried a heat rock?

If u use it right the heating pad as well as the UTH are not fire hazards. Have your tank on a not flammable surface and elevate the 4 corners so you can slide the heating pad in and out easily. The UTH includes "4 sticky-feet" for the same purpose. The crabs will not burn if you have substrate in your tank. They don't digg where it gets too warm for their taste. Heating pads turn themselfes off after 20 to 30 min as safety procaution.

My heating pad does not have an automatic shut off. I have a 29 gallon tank. Do you think that I would need more than those 4 little tab holding it up for the heating pad. The pad also has a sticky part to attach to the tank itself, so that pulling it in and out isn't an option.
I just want to be completly sure that I'm doing the right thing before I install this or anything else to my tank.

You must have a UTH then (under-tank-heater). It should be fine with those 4 taps. If u wanna be x-tra sure put another layer of folded cartboad or so under the corners of your tank. But if the UTH doesn't hit the underlaying surface it will be fine. Too much space will let the heat escape and your tank is not going to be warm enough. Is your tank on a wooden surface?

No heat rocks. They are not recommended for hermit crabs. A UTH is not a fire hazard even if you leave it on 24 hours a day for 5 years, unless it shorts out or something, and if you have it on a metal stand instead of wood, it's not going to catch anything on fire. They are safe, don't worry.

I went to a different pet store tonight and talked to someone who has the heating pad. He said that he left his on for too long one day and it spider cracked the bottom of his tank. Since then he wraps a towel around the pad. I'm trying that right now. So far its done nothing. My tank is naturally at 72 degrees.

Well, heating pads can get pretty hot if left on the highest setting (but actually not that hot). Maybe the guy had an older model that increases heat until you turn it off or so and older models might not turn themselfs off after 20 to 30 min. However, modern heating pads and UTHs don't get that hot. UTHs only have one level which is often not even enough to heat a tank.

He had the same UTH that I bought, which seems to be a standard. I did not want to pay $30 + for a heating pad, so this one does not have an auto shut off. He probably left it on too long while it was 80 or more degrees in the house - which is a big no no according to the manual.

My UTH was only $13.00 at the pet store and sticks to the glass. It does not shut off and it never gets that hot. I can put my hand right on it and it's never anything but warm. I had a heating pad and it got hotter then my UTH. I didn't trust the pad at all and it wasn't as efficiant

I have a Zoo-Med UTH made for 10-20 gallon tanks. It sticks to the bottom, comes with the little rubber footies to keep the tank lifted. I've had the same thing on the same tank for over a year now and I've never had a burned crab or a broken tank or a burnt table. I have put my hand directly on it and it was never hot, only mildly warm. It does after a while sucsessfully heat the tank and keep it at a steady 75 though. It's nice.

I have it under my tank, but my tank temp. has not risen above 72, which is what it is normally without the heat pad.

Thank-you all for telling my about your heating pad experience.