HCA: Hermit Crab Association

OK, so I just saw the "homemade hideaway cave" on another post and I'm hooked! I would love to make some larger caves and have some questions:

1. I've seen people use "GreatStuff" expanding foam -- I'm assuming that's OK to use in the crabitat? Do you just get that at home improvement stores?
2. Once hardened, you can then carve the GreatStuff? What kind of tool(s) do you use for that?
3. Then cover it with EE -- next question, is that dry EE or moistened? If it's dry, can you just chip some off of the compressed brick?
4. Re: attaching the EE to your structure -- I saw someone mix Aquarium sealant with the EE first into a kind of "slurry", then slather it all on together....I also saw someone spread the sealant on, then cover with EE -- is one way any better than the other? (At this point, one of the people doing a project also attached some fake plants right to the structure, which is another cool idea).

I've also seen people use GreatStuff to build entire background climbing structures for their tanks -- the question there is, does that affect the UTH at all? Won't you lose some of the heat coming in - or will the background get too hot?

Ah, the possibilities.....although I should probably be focusing on a DIY STAND first, that's the only thing keeping me back from putting it all together!

I have no idea about the greststuff stuff...hehe...but I use cinder block stands for my aquariums...you can just google cinder block aquarium stand and get all kinds of tutorials

Stay at home mommy to 4 kids (Ana 11, Joseph 9, Alizabeth 6, and Christian 2) 8 cats, 6 purple pincher hermit crabs, 4 little molly fish, 3 ferrets, 2 parrakets, 2 Oscars, 1 red eared slider, 1 cockatiel, 1 goldfish and 1 bone headed pittbull.

Following. I too am building a tank and will start on the background soon. I know that the great stuff foam is safe once dry and sealed with 100% silicone. I too was wondering if it would be better to first add the silicone and then add ee and moss or to make a slurry and add it. Hope u get the answer to your question

Many frog hobbyists mix titebond III wood glue with coco fiber, moss, and sometimes acrylic paint into a slurry. It works great, and is very safe

I heard titebond iii is better to work with than silicone, in regards to the stickiness or something. I would personally rather make a slurry, for aome reason i feel like it would make less mess in general.


EDIT: alsoooo i really like this guys's tutorial and product: http://youtu.be/xDUH5B7I790
I want a climbing rock background like that but with sand instead of EE to provide traction.

YYWW, great video! Thanks for posting that....however, doesn't a background like that interfere with a UTH on the back of the tank? Wouldn't that simply heat the wall and not the inside air like it's supposed to?

Yes having a background will keep the UTH from working at its full potential.

GreatStuff is awesome but my crabs have recently discovered they can pick it into tiny little pieces..... destructive little jerks!

I would drill a bunch of holes right before painting to let heat through


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I found the original post where the person discusses using a slurry INSTEAD of silicone first, then EE because it didn't work well -- it also states DRY EE, so that answers 2 of my questions. Here's the post, in case anyone is interested....

http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 39&t=92087

Basically the same idea, only the original poster used plastic containers cut in the shape they wanted them.....I still think the GreatStuff ones are the ones I'd like to do!

That was a good post!


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When I was in the planning stages of my 150 I read every thread about building backgrounds. I ended up buying a bunch of Magnaturals instead of making my own because I read that they pick through any background. I did add fake plants and flowers etc to the magnaturals. My only advice would be the same as Breeezy's...they will pick through everything and anything you make. So make sure it's accessible for you to fix up when they destroy it. The crabs haven't destroyed my magnaturals yet, but they have tore up everything else. I'm constantly replacing things I've made or flowers/plants they've shredded. They even climb along the smooth plastic parts of the tank and will mission impossible it across the top of the tank by clinging to tiny pieces of duct tape that tape my cords. I'm always replacing that too. Crazy crabs!

Yes! I did have fake plants and theyd make them all fray. Thats what got me looking into magnaturals. They dont beat up my woven ladders, so we're cool for now.


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