10 --> 25 Gal! :D

[mariilene]

I'm working on an upgrade for my E(s) (the second and third crabbies come later, when Gurdy is done molting) and I figured I'd babble my progress and ideas here! Hope y'all don't mind.

Current:



Plans:



(Side View)


(Top View)


I'm also planning a hemp net catwalk-thing across the front and have a reptile vine I'll figure out something with. The large-ish ovals are small lava rocks (I have a five-gallon bucket FULL) and the shell shop will be in a Tupperware with small holes in the bottom and on top of the lava rocks to help keep them clean.

I did my best to make it to scale without getting up to get a ruler (laaaaazy!) so that's 6-7" of playsand and EE for substrate. The largest crab will be a small E (all E's). Plexiglass top and clamp lamp light! I actually have 90% of the items in the plan, so I'm thrilled to get started! Gurdy's gonna be surprised when she comes back up!


10 Gallon
1 Sm E | Gurdy

[hermitcrab24]

Yay!!
Good luck with your upgrade!!

[aussieJJDude]

Looking good!
I am sure the E's will love the nice & deep substrate as well as the extra climbing room!

[mariilene]

I have a question about setting up my substrate. My 10G has THCP sand, some EE (no idea what ratio, kinda just dumped it in), a humidifier, and a plexiglass top. For the 20G I'm planning on playsand instead of THCP (accessibility) and all of the other things. My question is, should I use EE/how much for the 20G? I know the uses for EE and am asking because since getting the humidifier I've had trouble lowering my humidity to reasonable levels - it always stays 95-100% (and I have calibrated the gauge). So should I bother with the EE? Or maybe add some of it to my 10G after I remove the humidifier to help keep humidity once it doesn't have the humidifier anymore?

I hope that doesn't sound too confusing, haha... Thanks guys!!

[megmaholm]

I would still add EE, since it should help keep the sand moist and a good digging consistency. Honestly, I haven't noticed the EE mixed with my sand boosting the humidity much. Too high humidity won't hurt your crabs, it'll just encourage mold growth a little more. If your lid is plexiglass you can try to slide/prop it open a little to increase airflow and lower the humidity some.

So, yeah, I would go ahead and add EE to the 20 gallon. From my own experience, I use about half a brick of expanded/moistened EE to 1 bag of playsand, but a little more or less shouldn't hurt anything.

[mariilene]

Awesome, thank you! I have some that has been previously saturate but not mixed laying around, so I may just be haphazardly dumping that in, haha.


10 Gallon
1 Sm E | Gurdy

[mariilene]

This deal keeps getting better and better! I went to the guy's house to pick up the "20 Gallon Tall", brought it in, put it in its place, and... Stared at it. It was WAY too big! I broke out the tape measure and realized it's a 25 Gallon! I got it for $20 with gravel (I'll add it to my fish tank), a fake plant, some rocks, a clamp lamp I can't get to work, and mesh screen that's too big and I'll have to work with. It was supposed to have some fish tank cleaning supplies too, but I think he forgot and I didn't want them anyway. So, here it is with the majority of the gravel scooped out! You can see the current tank on the bottom left. I'll take out everything but the essentials to set up the new tale and transfer Gurdy and the main UTH as soon as I see her!




10 Gallon
1 Sm E | Gurdy

[aussieJJDude]

Wow, it looks like gurdy is going to have fun in there, I sure her (and hopefully a few friends) will have a ball. I look forward to the updates.

[mariilene]

I sure hope so! Gurdy will have at least two friends. She was molting when I adopted out her PP buddy to a home with someone on the HCA with more space for a larger crab last Saturday. I hope to get this set up pretty quickly and have her friends waiting for her when she's done molting. Thanks aussie!


10 Gallon
1 Sm E | Gurdy

[mariilene]

One bag of playsand in! Almost to my substrate depth (about 8.5"), and I'll probably go a bit deeper to use up some of the second bag - I just don't want to crowd my big plans for the top.

I'm out of dechlorinated water and work is a must, so I'm done for today and will get bunches more done tomorrow night! Right after I make an aluminum foil lid...

[mariilene]

About 80 pounds of playsand, a dash of EE, and some really grating sand under my nails later, I have about 9" of substrate and am ready for the fun stuff!

You can also see where I've started attaching heat pads. There are two little ZooMed ones I had lying around to help out my Ultratherm when it gets transferred over!

I think my fish are getting jealous for attention...

[KellyCrabbieLove]

Good luck getting that sand out! Lol I think it is tied for most annoying part of crabbing. That and the fact that no matter how careful you are there will be sand everywhere for the rest of your life whenever you lift something out. Looks great so far!

[mariilene]

Haha, thanks Kelly!

You're right - I think it's in my SHOES. I'm at work like AHHHHHH!

[megmaholm]

I've decided I hate sand with a passion. The room with the crabs is carpeted, and no matter how much I vacuum there's always more. I found sand in my belly button one day...I don't even want to know.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing more pics of your tank!

[mariilene]

I've decided I hate sand with a passion. The room with the crabs is carpeted, and no matter how much I vacuum there's always more. I found sand in my belly button one day...I don't even want to know.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing more pics of your tank!

That sounds disturbing! D: And thanks!!

Quick update! Here's what I got done last night:









Several things are temporary or trail-basis until I can pull more from the 10 Gal. when Gurdy comes back up. I checked the temp./humidity hi/lows this morning, hoping to get a couple of buddies in there soon, but that's not going to work. Humidity is lovely but... The temp. range was 68-72. I definitely need the UTH Gurdy has, so we'll see what happens. I do have some thoughts until then, though... Time to get creative!