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Crabitat Story: I've learned a lot...

Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 3:40 pm
by piratetoothgir
Hi, welcome to another one of my threads!
Today, I'll be sharing a familiar story about my journey through keeping hermit crabs, in simplest terms.

I started off knowing nothing! - but thinking I knew. I kept my crabs in a 10 gallon, with one inch of substrate.
I actually did not buy anything, but I took them from a neighbor who was moving. Here's the story behind that:

The tank was given to us with half an inch of EE, dry as could be. I got home, and set the tank down, then washed out the bowls.
I got a sponge, and cut it for them to drink from. I put hermit crab "sticks" food into their dish, which were terrible for them.

It came with a ZooMed UTH, fortunately.
After that evening, I went my LFS and got some supplies for them. More EE, and better food.

I moistened the substrate heavily than before, and still only had an inch.
Months later, we went back again, and got new bowls, grapewood chunks, more EE, and more shells.

On the day of Thanksgiving, early morning, I redid the tank again. I added more EE, and had about 4 inches this time, very moist.
I had two crabs, and they were Rocky, and Chompey. I remember rocky climbing the background, and sitting at the top for a while.

I do not have chompey in my care anymore, he was attacked durning a molt Image
Rocky, however I do still have! He is doing just fine, in the best terrarium ever!

I will now show off my current terrarium, and how much I have improved since I first got them!
Here's some recent photos!

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Re: Crabitat Story: I've learned a lot...

Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 11:33 pm
by jclee
What a great tank. It looks like he's come a long way, and I'm sure he's much happier now.

Re: Crabitat Story: I've learned a lot...

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 2:23 pm
by GotButterflies
Thanks for sharing! I just wanted to state that if that is a zoomed heater, you should not insulate it - that is a fire risk! Zoomed are already insulated. ;)

Re: Crabitat Story: I've learned a lot...

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 9:21 am
by daws409
Nice improvement! I'm sure many have a story similar to yours...

Sent from my VS835 using Tapatalk

Re: Crabitat Story: I've learned a lot...

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 4:04 pm
by Happyhermiehome
Looks great! :D

Re: Crabitat Story: I've learned a lot...

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 11:00 am
by piratetoothgir
GotButterflies wrote:Thanks for sharing! I just wanted to state that if that is a zoomed heater, you should not insulate it - that is a fire risk! Zoomed are already insulated. ;)
It's a Ultratherm UTH, but thanks for telling me!

Re: Crabitat Story: I've learned a lot...

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 11:01 am
by piratetoothgir
I really love my crabitat, but it's getting cold.
The heater cannot compete against the night temperatures, and it's been hanging our 76 all day, that's not warm enough.
I want to keep it at 82, but that's not an option until we turn on our house heat.

Re: Crabitat Story: I've learned a lot...

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 7:04 pm
by Happyhermiehome
You could try putting a blanket over or maybe a supplemental heat lamp.

Re: Crabitat Story: I've learned a lot...

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:52 pm
by piratetoothgir
I’ve got a blanket wrapped around the tank, but I have a desk lamp that gets pretty hot if left plugged in. Will that work?

Re: Crabitat Story: I've learned a lot...

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 4:54 pm
by Happyhermiehome
Actually when I got my first crab given to me his tank had no heat source and I used a bendy desk lamp lol. It worked fine :) if u plan to leave it on at night though I would suggest getting a blue/purple night bulb. U can get one at Walmart in the pet section for like $4. If just for day time though a regular 25-40 watt (depending on tank size and how much u need to raise the temp) white bulb should be fine. I use 60 watt day and 75 watts night bulbs on my 50g but they are my primary heat source.

EDIT: *** Oh I forgot to mention also that this can be used only on a screen lid. Or one that has a screen half. It might melt a plastic aquarium hood or Crack a glass lid!