Matt's new crabitat build. Pictures with updates.

[Matt]

Hello all, just thought I'd share my newest crabitat with you all to both get feedback and provide inspiration for others! Pictures to come.

FEEDBACK APPRECIATED

[Matt]

Acrylic sections drying. This is to contain both the saltwater pool and the beach.

[Matt]

Sand put into beach portion, this also acts as a second line of defense incase the seal of the main salt water pool breaks.

[Matt]

Air stones and tubing are being placed to move water around and to simulate an ocean front. This may also help to encourage mating among the crabs.

Also just ordered an Exo Terra background, it looks good and is climb able for the crabs. Buying more sand tommorow to finish off the sand portion and ocean part.

[Matt]

Crabs in 10 gallon ISO tank while their habitat is being remodeled.

[wodesorel]

You're going to get crabs that will try to molt in that and section. I would also worry about the sand going bad quickly since they're likely to keep spilling water and over saturating it. If it were me, I'd probably go with chunky gravel instead, cap it off somehow so they couldn't dig into it, and then stick an air tube down to the bottom of it. It would act as a really good humidifier, and it would keep any bad bacterial growth at bay.

If the exoterra background is foam, the crabs will destroy it.

[Matt]

You're going to get crabs that will try to molt in that and section. I would also worry about the sand going bad quickly since they're likely to keep spilling water and over saturating it. If it were me, I'd probably go with chunky gravel instead, cap it off somehow so they couldn't dig into it, and then stick an air tube down to the bottom of it. It would act as a really good humidifier, and it would keep any bad bacterial growth at bay.

If the exoterra background is foam, the crabs will destroy it.

Exactly what I was thinking with the sand, I'll post pictures later but I have taken plastic fake stone pieces and placed them just below the surface of the sand so it is impossible to dig down into and the water level will be lower so that water won't be splashed into sand area. That's also a god idea to keep humidity up but that area is not meant to fill with water, it is only a backup to ensure that if the main water seal breaks, it can keep the water at bay until I notice it next time I look into the tank, I did about 4 coats of silicone and water tested it about 3 times for period last of time upto a day. And whoops on that Exo terra backround ill have to see how it goes, might go get a cork back wall or build one. Thanks a lot for the tips it really helps me improve my crabitat!

[Matt]

Air stones in place and covered. Plastic stone slabs placed into beach to prohibit crabs from digging down (must be monitored daily to ensure slabs are not relocated by crabs). Salt water tank floor added (10mm of play sand). Check valve placed into air pump line.

If anyone has a suggestion on how to make the slope easier to climb down and more grippable for the crabs that would be appreciated.

[fantasybookworm]

I think I've seen people mention siliconing decorative tank stones to ramps to help the crabs grip. You could also drape a plastic plant over the edge so they can climb in & out on it. Craft stores often have nice ones that would probably work well.

[Ryry]

I think I've seen people mention siliconing decorative tank stones to ramps to help the crabs grip. You could also drape a plastic plant over the edge so they can climb in & out on it. Craft stores often have nice ones that would probably work well.

Great idea. You could even put down a layer of that wide cross stitch plastic stuff and then silicone some bigger rocks and stuff to it so the whole thing has tons of grip all over. I know I'm going to put some acrylic rods with holes drilled in all around my tank. Imagine if you had some just over where the water line will be so you could zip tie a plant of shelf or something. My crabs love to climb over my pools.

[Matt]

Great idea. You could even put down a layer of that wide cross stitch plastic stuff and then silicone some bigger rocks and stuff to it so the whole thing has tons of grip all over. I know I'm going to put some acrylic rods with holes drilled in all around my tank. Imagine if you had some just over where the water line will be so you could zip tie a plant of shelf or something. My crabs love to climb over my pools.

Thanks for the idea, I will look for some of the plastic material you describe.

One word of caution, I read while researching large hermit crab pools that placing areas to climb over pools is a bad idea. One person said a crab was climbing, and fell down into the pool quickly without a chance to get a decent breath and was injured in the fall and drown. Your probably fine but I'm paranoid with this stuff lol

[wodesorel]

Crabs don't have lungs - they can't 'hold' their breath.

One question - you said you did layers of silicon, did you add them all at once before the layer below skimmed over? Silicon does not stick to itself once dried. If you did more than one coat and it dried between, it'll fail quicker.

[Matt]

Crabs don't have lungs - they can't 'hold' their breath.

One question - you said you did layers of silicon, did you add them all at once before the layer below skimmed over? Silicon does not stick to itself once dried. If you did more than one coat and it dried between, it'll fail quicker.

I said catch their breath to mean they wouldn't be prepared to enter water, when hermits enter water, their shell maintains an air bubble that can be used for breathing temporarily with water, I meant one could fall in and be unprepared for swimming and drown.

When I said multiple layers I meant one original generous layer one one side then on the other connecting side once the first dried, then a few touch ups to areas that seemed weak or displayed a leak during tests.

[CallaLily]

One person said a crab was climbing, and fell down into the pool quickly without a chance to get a decent breath and was injured in the fall and drown. Your probably fine but I'm paranoid with this stuff lol

Sounds like some kind of freak accident. I had larger built in pools for a few years with "second levels" over them. Crabs occasionally fell off and into the water and were just fine. In most tanks, a fall from the highest spot isn't far enough to be cause for concern.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

Mine fall in a lot off of the plants and cholla wood. They always look annoyed and scamper out and away.

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