Humidity

[C: ClareCrabOwner :)]

My tank is only around 65-69 degrees Farenhiet, and I read it should be around 78. Will my crabs die? How do I warm it up?

Also, the humidity is around 99%. Do I need to lower it?

[curlysister]

There is no 'too humid', so you are fine there. Once you get your heat up a bit, the humidity will decrease.
What are you using for a heat source?
Have you had a look at the basics care sheet? It has all the info you need for setting up a basic tank.

viewtopic.php?f=120&t=119273

[C: ClareCrabOwner :)]

Thank you! I hadn't looked at that sheet yet.

I have small heating pads that came on each of the sides of my 10 gallon tank. (I got a used one.) I looked at the care sheet, and I noticed it recommended a larger heat pad on the back of the tank. Do you have a favorite heating pad you'd recommend?

[HermitGuy3]

Ultratherms are the best. Or flukers because you can insulate both of them.

[C: ClareCrabOwner :)]

What is the best place to get them from?

[curlysister]

Bean Farm is a good place to get a UTH.
If the two that are on your tank are sticky, you cannot insulate over top. If you get a good one like Ultratherm or Bean Farm, you can attach them with tape and can insulate over top.
Yes, if your tank is consistently too low of a temp, your crabs will not survive. 72 is the about the lowest you want for PPs.

[C: ClareCrabOwner :)]

Thank you, curlysister!
I'm getting another UTH, but I don't know how soon it will be here. I was worried about the crabs, so I draped an electric blanket over their cage. Within an hour, the teperature raised to 79!

If the two that are on your tank are sticky, you cannot insulate over top.

Do you mean the top of the cage or the top of the heaters?

[C: ClareCrabOwner :)]

The temp. got up to 87.
At what point is it to hot?

[JoeHermits]

I’d start to worry if it got into the 90s, but even at that temperature it’s not so bad if the crabs can escape it (such as by having cooler temperatures at night)

As for insulation, many heaters from pet stores with adhesives are already insulated so adding more can be a fire hazard


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[C: ClareCrabOwner :)]

Thank you! I'll take off some of the heat at night.

[C: ClareCrabOwner :)]

There is no 'too humid', so you are fine there.

I read at this article ( https://crabstreetjournal.org/blog/2012 ... t-do-i-do/ ) that a crab might leave its shell if it is to humid:
"A hermit crab will also leave their shell due to a too high of a humidity percentage. A high humidity level makes it difficult for the hermit crab to breath due to the ‘thicknesses’ of the humidity. If subjected to a too high humidity level, this can promote a gill infection that may cause irreversible damage. Maintaining humidity levels of 90% and higher is discouraged."

[C: ClareCrabOwner :)]

I looked at the basic care sheet and noticed a "moss pit" was recomended. Why?

[C: ClareCrabOwner :)]

Should I have dry substrate? This article suggests it:
https://crabstreetjournal.org/blog/2017 ... ming-from/

[HermitGuy3]

I looked at the basic care sheet and noticed a "moss pit" was recomended. Why?

Moss pits are recommended because they can increase/ decrease humidity depending where it is. The crabs also like to hide in it and eat it.

[HermitGuy3]

Should I have dry substrate? This article suggests it:
https://crabstreetjournal.org/blog/2017 ... ming-from/

Since you already have crabs, you should not do that I think. The humidity on the tank gets the sub to the right consistency after a few weeks. That is before you have your crabs. The moss pit, big water pools, and other things that help humidity. I would just let your substrate be for now. Probably if you upgrade!