Any Advice

[wodesorel]

Have you calibrated the hygrometer to make sure it's reading accurately? At 99% there's usually heavy condensation. Instructions on how to do that is here, it's easy and just needs to sit for a half day: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=92540

[NLindsey921]

I do get a lot of condensation at night once the heat lamp turns off. But i will go ahead and do the test. I never did it originally and it can't hurt. One of my hygrometers though is stuck to the side of my tank so it is not possible to do the test with that one because it would mess up the sticky stuff.

[NLindsey921]

I have set up the test. Now. . . . . to wait.

[NLindsey921]

I do get a lot of condensation at night once the heat lamp turns off. But i will go ahead and do the test. I never did it originally and it can't hurt. One of my hygrometers though is stuck to the side of my tank so it is not possible to do the test with that one because it would mess up the sticky stuff.

That one does seem to vary more however.

[NLindsey921]

ok. after about 6 hours, hygrometer reads at 86% so yes my hygrometer reads 11% above normal making my humidity about 88%.

[DragonsFly]

Well, I'm thinking I need to clean the glass extra well and try again, because some side is actually holding quite well, but the other isn't. So, maybe with a good wipedown and dry it'll work this time.

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I had some good luck for awhile with the "locking" kind of suction cups; but eventually I went to just hanging everything with zip-tie chains, it was more reliable.

I will echo the others' concern that the crabs are overcrowded, and this may lead to an array of problems. If you can't fix that now, you can't, but do plan for a MUCH bigger tank as soon as possible, make sure they have LOTS of appropriately sized (and typed) shells, feed lots of good sources of protein and chitin, and definitely don't add any more crabs. If it is going to be a long time before you can upgrade, you might look at adopting some of them out. Best wishes!

[NLindsey921]

I plan on moving out of my mother in law's house as soon as possible. Once I do, I will upgrade to at least a forty, probably larger. I feed them protein everyday and calcium and other items as well. I have a whole array of stuff from thehermitcrabpatch.com

[DragonsFly]

I do get a lot of condensation at night once the heat lamp turns off. But i will go ahead and do the test. I never did it originally and it can't hurt. One of my hygrometers though is stuck to the side of my tank so it is not possible to do the test with that one because it would mess up the sticky stuff.

I recommend sticking your "sticky" gauges onto chopsticks or popsicle sticks (or bamboo skewers--you can just stick them up through the sticky bit, then stand the stick in your substrate). This allows you to move them anywhere in the tank to get readings of how conditions vary, and also to take them out to recalibrate more easily. Further, I don't think that the readings that you get right on the glass of the tank side are most accurate. For temperature, the glass can conduct heat, so you are likely to be getting a reading that is at least somewhat a mixture of the tank temp and the outside temp. For humidity, water vapor often condenses on the glass, so I would expect the levels to be a little artificially too high there. If you are getting readings from around the tank where the crabs actually hang out, those are likely to be more helpful.

[NLindsey921]

Hmmmm. I'll consider that and see if I can get it off of the side of the tank.

[pandaincognito]

Dragonfly is right about the inaccuracy of sticky thermometers, and depending on which kimd you have trend to be that's to read. I have a food thermometer that I is in the fish tank and my crabs substrate. The sticker on the fish tank reads two degrees higher than the fish tank itself...

[NLindsey921]

ok. makes sense. i'll try to get it off the side off the tank. hopefully it doesn't leave too much sticky behind.

[Kittykimbro@att.net]

Command strips also come made especially for the shower/bathroom. They should work. I have had them in the shower of my RV for 4 years and the hold up shampoo, conditioner, bodywash and shaving creme. Year round. Check Walmart or Amazon.

[NLindsey921]

I didn't know that they made them for showers. Those should hold up in the crab tank. I'll check it out next time I go to walmart

[Rawrgeous]

Game changer! Thank you!

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[NLindsey921]

Had to take down my moss pit for the moment. The crabs knocked it down last night and no matter how much I tried, those suction cups were done for. So on Friday imma have to run to target or walmart and get those command strips.