Hello Friends,
I am new to the HCA forums but have found it to be an invaluable resource as I set up my children’s crabitat last year. Matthew and Brooke love playing with ‘Hermie’ and ‘Princess America’. I decided a couple weeks ago to build a crabitat in my office for my students (and me) to enjoy.
I set to work looking for the required supplies to build a new crabitat. I already had two cabinets for a stand. I found a 55 gallon fish tank on Craigslist for $40 and got a screen cover for an additional $20. I already have an LED light from a previous fish tank which is on a digital timer, turning on from 7AM to 7PM. I cleaned the tank with vinegar and washed it down with well water. While the tank dried, I soaked three blocks of coconut fiber. Once it had expanded, I laid the coconut fiber across the bottom approximately an inch deep. I hope to separate my substrate into three sections with sand on the left, coconut fiber on the right, and a mix in the middle.
I understand that the substrate should be three times as deep as the height of the largest crab. However, I have read that you should start shallow and add substrate after the hermit crabs have adjusted to the new environment. Regrettably, I lost a hermit crab early on to burying itself under 6-8 inches of sand. In the first three months, I thought it was molting. After 6 months, the smell was a telltale sign that it had not survived. At what point do you raise the level of the substrate?
I used some old driftwood from a fish tank as well as a hollowed log and cork tree bark to provide a place for my hermies to hide. I added two trays for fresh and salt water. Are they big enough? I also hung fake vegetation on the back wall but hope to add much more. I used a bendable vine to twist between all of the decorations. There are small patches of live moss in each corner and a shell shop on the right. There are also two clam shells for food. On the right is coconut and the left has hermit crab food pellets. Is it true that hermit crab food is not good for our little pets?
I currently have seven hermit crabs in this crabitat. They are all on the smaller side except for one medium sized, in front of the left side water. I have not interacted with them yet, so I can not tell you their species or gender. I specifically selected them for their activity in the tank. Each hermit crab was either active in the store or got up and took off as soon as they were laid in shallow water.
I am only at this school on Monday afternoons, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons. I will mist the entire surface a couple times a day to maintain humidity. I have a thermometer and hygrometer for the tank which I will install tomorrow. Is it true the gauge should be located close to the substrate? I plan on building a homemade humidifier using plans from Instructables.
I have a coconut fiber mat which will be attached to the left wall. I also want to make some upper levels. However, I am a bit of a purist and want my crabitat to look as natural as possible. I have seen some amazing examples on this forum. Most of them use spray foam to make a rock-like display. I am hoping to make something similar in the middle of the back wall. Ideally it would provide ramps to a mid level on the left-center and an upper level on the right.
I would appreciate your thoughts on what I have done so far. I want to make sure I am providing the best environment for my new little friends.
Thank you in advance for your advice,
Alan Smith
Cheshire & West Hartford, Connecticut
