HCA: Hermit Crab Association

We tried to drill air holes in plexi for the 55 gallon today. It just cracked and made a mess. How do we do this? Any advice? I've always been happy with a screen lid with plexi over it but this tank is too long, I can't find a screen lid big enough so thought we would use a plexi lid with holes in it. Those of you who do not use the screen lids, how to you prevent escapes?Thanks

Keeping the tank side high enough or keeping elevated platforms away from the tank sides usually prevents escapes.

Just bite the bullet and save money and buy the fish tank lids. I think I paid about 40$ for 2 of them because my tank has a bar that separates down the top middle. My tank was a yard sale type and what came with it was the fish tank lids but they were very old and cracking, falling apart. I thought about the plexiglass to but Sat and thought when I want to get in the tank I will have to slide it on and off, deal with lamps and clamps.. with the fish tank type lids and light it all comes in one box, you can open close the lids on 2 sides, have 2 lights one a moon glow and one a regular and not have those ugly metal lights sitting on top. My tank matches the lids, it matches the stand..as far as not getting the plexiglass to shatter try putting heavy duty tape where you want to drill, see if that helps? Maybe same concept as putting tape where you nail on plaster?keeps it from making it bigger?

I agree with Laurie, you'd do better just buying the right size glass lids meant for aquariums as drilling out plexi at home is impossible as you've discovered it.To successfully drill holes in plexi you need a specialty drill bit meant for plexi and it isn't cheap nor is taking the sheets of plexi to a home improvement store to get it drilled.

They make ones that are plastic lids

The only other suggestion I have would be get the plexi cut just shy of the length you want it at the store you purchase it from. For ex. your tank is 55 inches long get it cut 53 inches so you have an inch space at each end to let air in and grab with your fingers to remove.

I use a aquarium hood with strip light Very convenient

I've had a rough time in my 2+ years with my 40 gallon breeder (which was a gift). it may be the only one in existence without a middle bar so there are no lids for it that i can find. i have also thought hard about the plexi but it just doesn't make sense for the same reasons….i think this spring I'm popping to the full size with a lid that fits it during the $1/gal sale since we *finally* had a petsmart come to our town! I'm soooo looking forward to it and will probably move up to a much larger tank size.

The best way to drill holes in plexi is to do it with the paper film still on it. Do it on a flat wooden surface like a sheet of plywood and use a sharp drill bit. If you drill 1/4" holes one inch apart you should be fine. Maybe do two or three rows of holes on each end but not the entire piece.EX: ____________________|.. |.. |.. |.. |.. |____________________

Drilling and then using a scroll or jig saw may work, although I haven’t tried that. In the past I have seen it scored and broken like a glass pane. If drilling, one should be careful that the bit doesn’t bite too hard and screw its self through the plexi and forcing it apart breaking it. A drill press would be very helpful, nibbling the plastic out slowly. I will experiment.

I tried the drill press on a thin piece of plexi just nibbling slowly and it still grabbed as it went through the other side and caused small cracks but didn’t break. It worked much better than a hand drill though. I don’t think the new plexi can be cut or drilled as easily as what I have seen in the past.