DIY hermie huts

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:24 pm

I think its easier to get a premade one cause all you have to do is cut the label off then place it in the tank.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:22 pm

We had put our first one together by taking an old wooden basket and making an entrance for the hermies but it molded so bad that we had to toss it out. Today I made the following for the new 92gal corner crabitat we are working on.

http://www.shaylynmac.com/HPIM1133.JPG
http://www.shaylynmac.com/HPIM1132.JPG

They are out of old LPs

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:53 pm

Maybe it is just me, but I am only able to see the top of those photos.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 3:36 pm

It works fine for me. Try refreshing the page if it doesn't work this time.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:29 pm

Just tossing in my two cents because I was so proud of myself today, lol. I went gluegun crazy. I have a heavy duty paper cup, like the ones made for holding hot cocoa, and I cut a door in it with the cut part flipped up. Then I glued the lid up and glued some raffia around it so it looks like it was tied up. Then I glued a few shells on the raffia around the cup and glued a bunch of shells on the top. They all really like the cup and now I really like it too because it's a lot prettier.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:00 am

(chuckle).. jeez.. as kids, my mom set us down with a coconut and we had to get it open and the meat out.. (or I suppose go hungry)..

take a nail.. wack it gently into one of the coconut's "eyes".. the round spots on one end that look like a bowling ball's holes.. then poke out another.. you need two holes open for the milk to flow.. and keep the nail handy to re-open the holes as they tend to clog up.. place the coconut upside down (er.. eye-side down) over a glass.. (yes.. you can drink it.. or use it in a lovely rum drink)..

When it's drained.. place the coconut on its side... take your hammer and gently whack the nut along the scored line.. not too hard or your nut will skip away.. or worse.. crack wrong.. I do this on a hard surface.. that way the blow isn't absorbed by the ground.. but please don't do it on your glass patio table.. the sidewalk out front is good.. but that'll put on a show for your neighbors..

The nut will try to escape.. but you'll soon hit it in the right spot with enough force and it will split.. take the claw of your hammer and help the split to complete.. or whack it gently again.. or just muscle the thing open..

Now.. take a sturdy butter knife.. NOT a sharp knife.. unless you want to poke a hole in your leg.. slip the knife between the husk and the meat.. then pry off some meat.. the first bits will be small.. but once you get a gap going it won't take long to finish the job.

The crabs will eat any tiny bits you leave for them.. but you should eat some of the hunks.. ummm yummm. (drinking the milk is kinda a rite of passage.. it tastes fine.. but most first-timers have to be encouraged to take the first swig.. kinda like the old move Red Dawn (grin)).. The meat really is yummy.

I saw the Dremmel tool picture.. I suggest using a cutting tool.. not the cutting wheel.. the cutting wheels fly apart and poke out eyes and put holes in thighs... the cutting tools (looks like a drill bit with too many grooves) are easier to control for me.. I really don't want a cutting wheel to race across my hand.

BUT.. you don't even need to cut a pretty opening.. bury one end a bit in the sand and the crabs will lift it to go in and out.. pretty cute really.

Anyway.. I say to do it yourself.. it's part of the zen of being a crabber.

Enjoy!

Dave

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:26 pm

LOL

Ok, you got me. Now I HAVE to get a coconut. Since you said "it's part of the zen of being a crabber". I feel somehow inadequate now because I haven't done it (even though there's currently no room for one in my crabitat!).

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:42 pm

he he he... I bought a coconut today.... I am going to poke the eyes out and drain out the milk. Then I am going to drill a large circle in the side to be a door (I am not splitting it in half but leaving it whole)and then drill some holes in the back for the suction cups... it'll be like a nest. I am going to put in moss... I got the idea off of some one else but don't remember who... just got to figure out how to get the meat out... guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

I might try to get a hemp rope ladder for it.

MomToDixie · Post by **MomToDixie** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:56 pm

I have one and I love it. The crabs will pile in there 3-5 at a time

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http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/ ... 0_1049.jpg

I found the trick to getting the meat out was to use a flat head screw driver and stab the meat with it and twist. Good luck.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:40 pm

Yup that's what I want to make. I think I stole the idea from you.