homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
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Topic author - Posts: 41
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 7:40 pm
homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
I made a cave-like hidey thing for my new blues and straws to enjoy! I now have a 55 gal and 40 gal setup. Funny to think just 6 months ago I had a tiny critter keeper with gravel and pellet food. So thankful for the HCA!!
I bought this shelf thing from Walmart for a couple bucks
then I covered it in GreatStuff
then i let it expand and harden, it took a couple hours. it expanded WAY more than this
pic shows, so go easy with this stuff. it's pretty cool stuff.
note the cute kitty in the background. that's Kylie, the cat who adopted us.
then i carefully carved it so it looked more rocky and made built in ledges and caves
then i used aquarium silicone to glue ecco earth and moss everywhere. i had to let it
dry outside for 2 days until the silicone smell was completely gone.
here's my new small straw! I saw another HCA member post about a supplier that carries
exotics, so i went to segrestfarms.com and looked up aquarium stores in my area that use
them as a supplier. I contacted the store owner and begged her to order 3 blues and 2 straws
for me and she did!! I ordered them on Monday and got them on Thursday! i love them!!
here's my new medium sized straw! haven't checked genders yet so i haven't named them yet.
here's one of my 3 new blues! he's a big medium and he's so friendly.
i'm in crab heaven right now!!
I bought this shelf thing from Walmart for a couple bucks
then I covered it in GreatStuff
then i let it expand and harden, it took a couple hours. it expanded WAY more than this
pic shows, so go easy with this stuff. it's pretty cool stuff.
note the cute kitty in the background. that's Kylie, the cat who adopted us.
then i carefully carved it so it looked more rocky and made built in ledges and caves
then i used aquarium silicone to glue ecco earth and moss everywhere. i had to let it
dry outside for 2 days until the silicone smell was completely gone.
here's my new small straw! I saw another HCA member post about a supplier that carries
exotics, so i went to segrestfarms.com and looked up aquarium stores in my area that use
them as a supplier. I contacted the store owner and begged her to order 3 blues and 2 straws
for me and she did!! I ordered them on Monday and got them on Thursday! i love them!!
here's my new medium sized straw! haven't checked genders yet so i haven't named them yet.
here's one of my 3 new blues! he's a big medium and he's so friendly.
i'm in crab heaven right now!!
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Topic author - Posts: 41
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 7:40 pm
Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
The cave turned out nice. The new crabs are very cute!
Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
First things first, LOVE your new straws and blues! Congrats on the new exotics and secondly, what section did you find the shelf in (if you remember)? I've been looking for some cheap shelving options and I've always got my two year old with me so browsing is very limited!
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Crabby crew of 17- Bob, Lil Mama, Squirt, Guppy, Deacon, Madison, Bash, Thumbelina, Wilson, George, Rosie, Hercules, Speedy, Jeff, Jerry, Keen, and Reddington :)
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Topic author - Posts: 41
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 7:40 pm
Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
Hi moonbeam, that shelf came in a 3 pack of different sizes and it was in the aisle by the tupperware in the home good section. it was the aisle between kitchen utensils and laundry/vacuum supplies.moonbeam wrote:First things first, LOVE your new straws and blues! Congrats on the new exotics and secondly, what section did you find the shelf in (if you remember)? I've been looking for some cheap shelving options and I've always got my two year old with me so browsing is very limited!
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Topic author - Posts: 41
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 7:40 pm
Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
CallaLily wrote:The cave turned out nice. The new crabs are very cute!
Thanks Calla! they're so awesome, they all have great personalities and seem to be getting along with my pp's and e's just fine.
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- Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2013 3:49 pm
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Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
They all look wonderful and healthy, and cool cave!
One thing, you said they are blueberries when I saw the picture, the eyes look more like viola's than a blue's. I could be wrong, I'm no expert. I can never find the picture ID thing we have somewhere, I was going to look at it but can't find it!
One thing, you said they are blueberries when I saw the picture, the eyes look more like viola's than a blue's. I could be wrong, I'm no expert. I can never find the picture ID thing we have somewhere, I was going to look at it but can't find it!
Crabbing since July 2013!
4 PPs - Chloe, Tani, Kono, McGarrett
4 PPs - Chloe, Tani, Kono, McGarrett
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Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
Love the cave! I think I will be doing that, too!
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Topic author - Posts: 41
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 7:40 pm
Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
oh man you're right dc! i found a good website that compares species: http://www.coenobitaspecies.com/violascens.htmhermitcrabdc wrote:They all look wonderful and healthy, and cool cave!
One thing, you said they are blueberries when I saw the picture, the eyes look more like viola's than a blue's. I could be wrong, I'm no expert. I can never find the picture ID thing we have somewhere, I was going to look at it but can't find it!
So, I got 3 violas, not blues. Oh well, i love them all the same!
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- Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2013 3:49 pm
- Location: Ohio/Arkansas
Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
Thanks for the link!go_skiboard wrote: oh man you're right dc! i found a good website that compares species: http://www.coenobitaspecies.com/violascens.htm
So, I got 3 violas, not blues. Oh well, i love them all the same!
Crabbing since July 2013!
4 PPs - Chloe, Tani, Kono, McGarrett
4 PPs - Chloe, Tani, Kono, McGarrett
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Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
great stuff huh? Hmmm I really need to try working with this stuff. That cave turned out awesome.
Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
Thanks go_skiboard! Appreciate the tip.go_skiboard wrote: Hi moonbeam, that shelf came in a 3 pack of different sizes and it was in the aisle by the tupperware in the home good section. it was the aisle between kitchen utensils and laundry/vacuum supplies.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Crabby crew of 17- Bob, Lil Mama, Squirt, Guppy, Deacon, Madison, Bash, Thumbelina, Wilson, George, Rosie, Hercules, Speedy, Jeff, Jerry, Keen, and Reddington :)
Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
Thanks go_skiboard! Appreciate the tip.go_skiboard wrote: Hi moonbeam, that shelf came in a 3 pack of different sizes and it was in the aisle by the tupperware in the home good section. it was the aisle between kitchen utensils and laundry/vacuum supplies.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Crabby crew of 17- Bob, Lil Mama, Squirt, Guppy, Deacon, Madison, Bash, Thumbelina, Wilson, George, Rosie, Hercules, Speedy, Jeff, Jerry, Keen, and Reddington :)
Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
Not sure why it posted twice. Sorry.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Crabby crew of 17- Bob, Lil Mama, Squirt, Guppy, Deacon, Madison, Bash, Thumbelina, Wilson, George, Rosie, Hercules, Speedy, Jeff, Jerry, Keen, and Reddington :)
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Topic author - Posts: 41
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 7:40 pm
Re: homemade hermit cave and new exotics!
the stuff is pretty great! i under estimated how much it would expand. apparently there are two types of great stuff, one for filling big gaps and one for small gaps. I used the big gap stuff and I had to cut a lot of it off. i'm so proud of that silly cave!ErikRasmussen wrote:great stuff huh? Hmmm I really need to try working with this stuff. That cave turned out awesome.