HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello, I am looking for suggestions for a lid for my 10 gallon tank. I have looked all over the internet and just get overwhelmed by the number of products and don't know what would fit my needs. I am looking for something lighted and heat proof so I can warm my tank up a few degrees with a light bulb. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

Thanks!

Hi hoosiermom!

I don't know what you have available locally, but I prefer glass lids and did a Google search to find places that would cut a custom one for my 10G (I want the back corners to have spaces for airline tubing to come through) and I'm getting it ordered Monday for $12. If you don't want anything special, you could pick up a glass one for standard tank sizes at places like PetCo and PetSmart for a similar price. With a glass lid, you couldn't place a lamp directly on it, though, because you'd risk breaking the glass and hurting yourself and hermies, so you'd want a clamp lamp.

A cheap option would be a mesh lid with plastic wrap wrapped around to keep humidity in, but not under the lamp - leave that uncovered so the wrap doesn't melt. That's what I was doing before. (: You could also use tape (I like double-sided) to hold it on so you don't have to juggle it every time you move the lid. I've also heard of crabbers on HCA using Ziplocs and bubble wrap in a similar manner and having good results!

When it comes down to it, it's all up to your imagination! THCP (www.hermitcrabpatch.com) has some cool items. Look under multiple categories for everything they have, though! It isn't all under "lids".

Good luck!!

Check into aquarium hoods. They are heavy-duty plastic with a 4" wide horizontal glass insert and a hinged plastic horizontal front flap to access the tank. They come with a fluorescent light fixture that sits atop the glass section. The bulb that comes with the kit is meant for light, not heat, so you'd want to pick up a bulb that's meant for heating a terrarium, i.e., Repti-Glo Tropical 5.0 fluorescent. Both the hoods and Repti-Glo (or other brands) bulbs are available at chain pet stores like Petco and PetSmart.