HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Keep in mind I have never build anything before let alone on my own... YIKES xD

First I had to get the wood and supplies (soon realized I would run out of money...)

Built a base that would hold the weight of the substrate plus the oh so heavy crabs

Started building the sides

Tried my hand at making a custom window with frame all by myself think it turned out better than what I had expected haha

With the help of my girlfriend, I put all the substrate in and she put/set up how she wanted it to look with what we could afford as of now into it

Here's the closer look at the inside. The substrate is a 5:1 mix of sand and EE at a depth of a foot and a half kept at sand castle consistency. The upper left box is an assortment of chewing things like shells, starfish, ect. The box half way down on the right is the shell shop. It contains 8 shells for each crab ranging from sizes too small, just right, and too big. The giant box, bottom left, is a moss pit. It holds about 4 inches of moss with corkbark and branch to get in and out of. The salt and fresh water tubs are near the front and can barely be seen in theses photos but their much larger than any crab so they can soak plus they have easy access in and out of. Top right is just a normal fish tank bulb to provide lighting to view. There are two ceramic infrared bulbs mounted above to provide lightless heat. In the back there is a humidifier hooked up to keep the humidity up. Both heat bulbs and the humidifier are connected to a switch to maintain the humidity between 80-88% and the temp. 80-89 degrees Farenheit, will turn them off and on as need be. In the back top there is also an air pump to provide air flow to help with mold and since they have modified gills and need air as well.




This is currently holding 5 crabs as three from the old tank still have yet to surface from a molt but will be moved afterwards when appropriate. I hope to get a few more crabs soon <3
Any questions, comments, or concerns just leave them I want to improve as much as I can for my hermies. I wouldn't be able to do any of this without ALL of you guys on the forum!!! I check it and read HCA three times a day and just love this community!! <3
If I forgot anything I'll try to add it in the morning I'm lacking sleep from work and exhausted haha HAPPY CRABBING FAM!

Wow,That is big! I was wondering if the wood was treated at the lumber yard for pests? I also worry that the moist substrate will cause the wood on the bottom to mold or mildew.There are others on here that have made these type of craitats but not sure how they protected the wood.I will try to look in archives or old threads.

Wow that looks fantastic?! How did you treat the wood; I like the natural tones showing. Bet the crabs are loving the space.

I was hoping someone ( maybe wode? ) could answer if the unfinished wood under the damp substrate will be ok against mold or mildew? I know others have built these these type of crabitats but they used some kind of finish or liner for the substrate.

Chances are, you'll have some issues with the wood rotting or molding with constant moisture levels. Even with three coats of water-based polyurethane on my wood, I'd notice light patches of mold/fungus growing when my tortoise enclosure is covered up (less air circulation). I usually just wipe the surfaces down every so often as part of the enclosure maintenance. Might be tougher in your situation to do spot cleans with rough, untreated wood surfaces.

nepenthes wrote:Chances are, you'll have some issues with the wood rotting or molding with constant moisture levels. Even with three coats of water-based polyurethane on my wood, I'd notice light patches of mold/fungus growing when my tortoise enclosure is covered up (less air circulation). I usually just wipe the surfaces down every so often as part of the enclosure maintenance. Might be tougher in your situation to do spot cleans with rough, untreated wood surfaces.

Nepenthes,do you think the mold issue will be worse with having deep substrate like sand and cocofiber?

It's a very industrious project! I am so impressed with you!!! But I too would consider coating the wood in a few coats of polyurethane.

IBlab crab wrote:Nepenthes,do you think the mold issue will be worse with having deep substrate like sand and cocofiber?

I'm no expert whatsoever, but mold issues aren't so much dependent on substrate so much as moisture, in general. Like, in my enclosure, I have that triple coat of polyurethane, as mentioned, then lined the inside of the enclosure with thick pond liner. The wooden ledges are where I normally see mold issues where nothing but moisture and stagnant air are present. I also get spots of mold on the plastic liner that I use to cover my enclosure. With untreated wood, I can imagine lots of mold where air and moisture is trapped whether it be above or below substrate level. Hope this helps.

Did you seal the wood? Fiberglass resin would actually be a really good choice. If the wood was treated with chemicals during processing, or made from an unsafe wood (pine is unsafe in crabitats due to the phenols in a closed surface (fumes)).



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nepenthes wrote: I'm no expert whatsoever, but mold issues aren't so much dependent on substrate so much as moisture, in general. Like, in my enclosure, I have that triple coat of polyurethane, as mentioned, then lined the inside of the enclosure with thick pond liner. The wooden ledges are where I normally see mold issues where nothing but moisture and stagnant air are present. I also get spots of mold on the plastic liner that I use to cover my enclosure. With untreated wood, I can imagine lots of mold where air and moisture is trapped whether it be above or below substrate level. Hope this helps.

Not sure if you are familiar with crabs substrate but yes it is moist,has to be sand castle consitency and humidity should be 75-80%.
Thank you for the info on turtles.Please post pics of your turtles if you want in the Chat section,we love looking and knowing about other critters too.

soilentgringa wrote:Did you seal the wood? Fiberglass resin would actually be a really good choice. If the wood was treated with chemicals during processing, or made from an unsafe wood (pine is unsafe in crabitats due to the phenols in a closed surface (fumes)).



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soilentgringa,the wood does not look coated on the inside in any of the pics and it is not mentioned in their post.Hopefully they will come back on before a crab goes down to molt,but then again it could take awhile before mold/mildew starts.

Not so much worried about mold and mildew as I am the wood warping and coming apart being unsealed at a high humidity over time. Moisture will soften the wood and cause it to bow/bend if not sealed.

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soilentgringa wrote:Not so much worried about mold and mildew as I am the wood warping and coming apart being unsealed at a high humidity over time. Moisture will soften the wood and cause it to bow/bend if not sealed.

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I did not even think of that.

Okay I'm back and alive to answer a few questions about it that keeps coming up yes the wood is treated. It has not been treated for pest since stuff for bugs can harm the crabs as well. It was treated on site for water resistance (although some of you are right that stuff won't last, but it will last long enough to where I can reapply every so years during a super deep clean). It was also sealed at home for water by me while I looked up every chemical of everything I used to find any known harm to crabbies. Had to repurchase one sealant because of its main ingredient. The walls not touching the substrate will not mold and should not warp ever as long as I keep up to date with maintenance. The wood touching the substrate will (should, but I'll always keep an eye on it) never mold because it is sitting on a false bottom with quick access tray to check for leaks and mold. It is also laying on pool level lining custom fit to the size so its skin tight on it. It is also not made of pine as I have spent many days/hours on this site and other credible sites looking at every safe and harmful to crabbies based on everything I was using and could use. The window framed door in front was not treated or anything it was just a fast fix to not having anything but I've already replaced it with much better.

I believe I answered all of the worries and questions and sorry for being absent my work sucked this weekend but I'm off a few days. Also I'm having trouble maintaining the heat at night as it gets well below the 20s already at night. I have two ceramic heat emitters each 100w. Would it better to install more of those, a space heater like thing for animals, or replace the two 100w CHE with higher watt ones??? Thank you all again and so much for the worries <3 you all

TL:DR Wood is safe for crabs, wood shouldn't mold or warp, covered my butt three different ways for every possible setback/harm to crabs, can't be lazy for crabs and we are gg. <3 I love my crabs!

OK,good to know.I have never built this type of crabitat and when you posted the build and pics It seemed that it was not apparent. Keep us updated on how it goes.