HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello everyone, I'm Jimmy. My wife bought a crab about 4 years ago, in Ocean City. I would've been against it, had I been there. I didn't think it was going to live very long, but it did. So I got it a bigger tank, some real substrate (instead of just a few peddles in a tiny wire cage), a hiding spot and I gave it a name. Ralphy. Knowing what I've come to learn so far, I'm really surprised he survived. But he did. So I got him a friend, Randy, and continued to upgrade their bachelor pad. I'm actually not even sure of either of their sex. But long story short, I decided to go all in, and build my first Crabitat. I now have 6 total. They all live in a 30g tank. Ralphy and Randy have actually just came back up from their second molt (Their 1st molt in the new Crabitat). The others disappeared almost immediately after move in day. Being their first molt with me. So far only one has re-emerged. I'm pretty nervous about the other 3 they are taking their good old time. I'm afraid I may have killed 2 of them. I did not know they needed total darkness in order to molt. I opened up the cabinet door under their tank and used my flashlight to monitor their whereabouts. I could only see 2 through the glass. They are the ones I fear are dead. They haven't moved at all in weeks. I think they would be considered small. Actually Im pretty sure they all are "small". Ralphy and Randy are a little bit bigger then an American 50 cent piece. 3 are a little bit smaller, and my smallest is about the size of a quarter. All purple pinchers btw. My temperature mostly hovers around 70° and the humidity is usually 50-60% on the sand side. 75% on the water side. Which reminds me, what would be a reasonable water temperature?
Anyway, here are some pics of my current setup. I think I did at least a half decent job having been my first attempt. Lmk what you think.















The fog machine

Fresh water bubble pool before I added in the sand.

The salt water bubble bath I made from a food container.

2 level lunch room

Riverstone divider

Water leak test, which btw I have yet to see ANY crab use. I'm not sure if it's water, the Riverstone, or something else they don't like. I'm gong to try something different next time.

Gravel bottom with bubbler line



Soon to be 2nd floor. I'm not completely sure if I like it yet. I'm still working out the kinks before I attach it. The light on the right is only there for the picture. I think I'm going to use a UVB florescent light across the top of the 30g behind the top tank. I have a 60w ceramic bulb for heat on top of the top tank and im thinking of installing an overhead red light where you see the regular light bulb now. Should look somewhat like this.

WOW! I can tell you put a lot of work into this tank! Looks great!! You have some spoiled hermits!!
Question: Did the box stay in there? You said you were able to view them while they were down, so that is what makes me ask. If so, I recommend removing it. The box traps them in there, and doesn't allow them to dig around. So say a hermit goes down to dig and comes up on a molter. The molter is toast. With the built in pool you are already limiting their molting space. Molting space is extremely important.
Also, heat and humidity should be a minimum of 80/80.
With your pools - you might have more success with seeing them going into it if you switch the msw pool with the fw pool. However, PPs don't really swim in either. They will fully submerge in them, but not go all the way in like other species.
Once again, absolutely beautiful tank! I can tell you put in a lot of time - it's gorgeous!

Edit: WELCOME TO THE HCA!!!

Ok, I'll switch the water around. No the box is gone. I was using it to represent the sand level. So I could see where everything would sit, before I put the sand in.
Thanks for the advice.

Jimmyfingers85 wrote:Ok, I'll switch the water around. No the box is gone. I was using it to represent the sand level. So I could see where everything would sit, before I put the sand in.
Thanks for the advice.

Yw! Looks great! Really is a nice tank! I bet they love it!

Wooow gorgeous, I'm jelly

Wow! That's looks really great! Lucky lucky crabbies! My purple pitchers don't hang out much in the water either but the large bubbler pools do wonders for humidity levels! They might also be sneaking in at night for a quick dip while all the humans are sleeping lol. It looks like u have analog Dial Gages these are notoriously wonky. I recommend swhiching to a digital ones or at least making sure those are properly calibrated. Might be why your humidity is so different on either side of the tank. When my accurate digital one reads about 85%rh an analog one I have will only read 70%rh when both are placed right next to each other in the tank. that's quite a bit of difference.

Hello welcome.
Water temperature should match the air temp, so its fine. They will be accustomed to similar levels in the wild. The only thing I'd like to ask if its plexi or not - may if missed it? Not ti rain on your parade, but plexi will eventually break apart on the silicone join as it dissolves, which can lead to leaking...


Regardless,
Nice tank and once again, welcome.

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aussieJJDude wrote:Hello welcome.
Water temperature should match the air temp, so its fine. They will be accustomed to similar levels in the wild. The only thing I'd like to ask if its plexi or not - may if missed it? Not ti rain on your parade, but plexi will eventually break apart on the silicone join as it dissolves, which can lead to leaking...

Ok cool Thanks! Yes it's plexi glass. I was shooting for one of those over the top tanks. I wish I would've used the same stone i used in the smaller salt water tub tho. I think it would've turned out better then the river stone. But it was definitely fun to build. What else could I use for a divider other then glass or plexi?

Hi, and welcome to the HCA!
My name is Fanatic.

I really like that tank you designed! Did you silicone the glass piece with the stone for the pools? I really love the container with stones on it!

You might be a bit new to their care, but not to requirements!
I will be keeping watch on this thread.


Fanatic

Fanatic wrote: I really like that tank you designed! Did you silicone the glass piece with the stone for the pools? I really love the container with stones on it!

You might be a bit new to their care, but not to requirements!
I will be keeping watch on this thread.

Fanatic

Thanks! Yes, pretty much everything I made, I used silicone with. Which wasn't much really. The only thing I was worried about was the green "moss" I used for the l eating area. I got it at an arts and crafts store. It was a decorative moss with a peel away sticky side. Once it was finished I pressed sand down on it in case it was still sticky on the top side. Then I shook off what didn't stick. They don't seem to mind it at all. But I think I'm gonna try something else just to be safe.

Jimmyfingers85 wrote:

Fanatic wrote: I really like that tank you designed! Did you silicone the glass piece with the stone for the pools? I really love the container with stones on it!

You might be a bit new to their care, but not to requirements!
I will be keeping watch on this thread.

Fanatic

Thanks! Yes, pretty much everything I made, I used silicone with. Which wasn't much really. The only thing I was worried about was the green "moss" I used for the l eating area. I got it at an arts and crafts store. It was a decorative moss with a peel away sticky side. Once it was finished I pressed sand down on it in case it was still sticky on the top side. Then I shook off what didn't stick. They don't seem to mind it at all. But I think I'm gonna try something else just to be safe.

Wouldn’t have thought of that! I cannot wait to upgrade my crabs to a glass tank, that is plain. Right now my tank is acrylic and it’s strange in shape. I am wanting to ask for a 55 gallon for Christmas!


Fanatic

Wow! That is a fantastic tank and similar to what I'm trying to make above my 20Long. I bought a 15Gal and have multiple others to put on top, I just haven't figured it all out yet.

I already have a 20Long with a glass divider. I want to put stones on it the same as you with aquarium silicone sealant. I'm still puzzled as to why everyone says that won't work because aquarium silicone has always worked well in aquariums for over 20+ years.

I like the moss level you designed. What did you use as the base?

Also, how do you allow the hermits up to the second tank? I don't want to punch out the whole bottom of mine. Plus that way I could put more substrate up there to help with territories.

Can't wait to see what you do next!

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Sweetforestcat wrote:I already have a 20Long with a glass divider. I want to put stones on it the same as you with aquarium silicone sealant. I'm still puzzled as to why everyone says that won't work because aquarium silicone has always worked well in aquariums for over 20+ years.

Glass is fine, and will form a watertight seal. Plexi will not. Even then, there still is a risk of it leaking with glass, since (dried) silicone does not bond well with (wet) silicone...

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aussieJJDude wrote:

Sweetforestcat wrote:I already have a 20Long with a glass divider. I want to put stones on it the same as you with aquarium silicone sealant. I'm still puzzled as to why everyone says that won't work because aquarium silicone has always worked well in aquariums for over 20+ years.

Glass is fine, and will form a watertight seal. Plexi will not. Even then, there still is a risk of it leaking with glass, since (dried) silicone does not bond well with (wet) silicone...

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Thank you for your help.

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Yes thank you all!