First Tank Setup

Talk2tjj · Post by **Talk2tjj** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 12:50 am

Well, the school is well be starting soon and the 20 gallon tank is ready (I think). Here are some pics of my first crabitat. Hopefully, it works. I tried to follow everything I've learned from y'all. I went with coconut substrate so I hope that's okay. I put plexiglass covers (3 seperated pieces) over the top so that I can control the humidity and made 3 levels with 2 ways to get to each. There are 5 hideouts, a moss pit, and she'll shop. For 5 crabbies, is that good enough? I won't get the crabs ibuprofen I know that the tank is set correctly for them. Do I have enough spaces for 5?

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AleyedtoBuggie · Post by **AleyedtoBuggie** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 1:45 am

It looks amazing! A thought, you might want to start with 2-3 small to medium hermies, because they will grow. As they grow you need more sub and tank space. A 20 gallon is a good start.

How much sub, inch wise, did you put? 5 inches is the minimum. The care guides can help you self check, but as I said, it looks really good otherwise.

Most of us, not all, but it was suggested to me, use a mix of play sand from home depot and eco earth/coconut fiber bedding.

The 50 lb bag at home depot is less than $5 and a 3 pack of eco earth bricks are less than $10, and a mix of about 50/50 keeps my humidity well. I have 2 hermies in a 25 gallon. One small, one medium.

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AleyedtoBuggie · Post by **AleyedtoBuggie** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 1:53 am

Here's a link to the basic care guide for all species, but there are detailed guides too. Just check the Care Guides. Hope you quickly become a hermie lover!

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=92457

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MrTeacherDude · Post by **MrTeacherDude** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 9:21 am

That's cool you have it in the classroom. I teach middle school and my crabs are about to make a big move to a 75G tank in my classroom. I'll just keep my smaller tank at home for the summers.

Talk2tjj · Post by **Talk2tjj** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 4:11 am

AleyedtoBuggie wrote:It looks amazing! A thought, you might want to start with 2-3 small to medium hermies, because they will grow. As they grow you need more sub and tank space. A 20 gallon is a good start.

How much sub, inch wise, did you put? 5 inches is the minimum. The care guides can help you self check, but as I said, it looks really good otherwise.

Most of us, not all, but it was suggested to me, use a mix of play sand from home depot and eco earth/coconut fiber bedding.

The 50 lb bag at home depot is less than $5 and a 3 pack of eco earth bricks are less than $10, and a mix of about 50/50 keeps my humidity well. I have 2 hermies in a 25 gallon. One small, one medium.

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Thanks! Towards the water end, it had 4-4.5 inches and towards the shells, it's 5-5.5 inches. I have play sand for my classroom but want sure how to mix it so I didn't. I'll add it on the next change.

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Talk2tjj · Post by **Talk2tjj** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 4:13 am

MrTeacherDude wrote:That's cool you have it in the classroom. I teach middle school and my crabs are about to make a big move to a 75G tank in my classroom. I'll just keep my smaller tank at home for the summers.

Wow! I can't imagine a 75 gallon tank. [ASTONISHED FACE] maybe in a couple of years. I can't wait for my students to start researching crabs!

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soilentgringa · Post by **soilentgringa** » Thu Aug 11, 2016 8:58 am

5 inches is not the minimum amount of sub.

We recommend AT LEAST 3X deeper than your largest crab or half the tank, ideally. The larger the crabs you have, the deeper your sub needs to be.

I have 12-13" of substrate in my 55. That is 250lbs of sub and 3 bricks of EE.

I would suggest reviewing the care guides if you haven't had a chance lately.

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=92457

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AleyedtoBuggie · Post by **AleyedtoBuggie** » Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:03 am

Sorry, that's what I was told as a new crabber. My 25 gal has 7-8 inches with a small and medium hermie. Is that not right? I asked, and that's what I was told.

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soilentgringa · Post by **soilentgringa** » Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:52 am

AleyedtoBuggie wrote:Sorry, that's what I was told as a new crabber. My 25 gal has 7-8 inches with a small and medium hermie. Is that not right? I asked, and that's what I was told.

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I know that sometimes people suggest a minimum of 6". I've seen that number tossed around a lot and I think it may have even said that on our old careguide, but that was updated by Wodesorel almost two years ago.

HCA recommends 3X deeper than your largest crab or at least half the tank. There is a picture in the care guide that illustrates a mock tank setup.

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Talk2tjj · Post by **Talk2tjj** » Mon Aug 15, 2016 11:45 pm

I think I'm okay then. The crabs I got today are small. 1-1 1/2in is the biggest. [WHITE SMILING FACE] I did add a little more so that 1/2 the tank is 6inches and the other 1/2 is 5.

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HCA: Hermit Crab Association

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