2nd level ideas

Crabby Abby · Post by **Crabby Abby** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 7:40 am

This is a repost of some 2nd level ideas I shared in a thread that was accidently deleted when I was cleaning it up to ready it for archive. DOH!! lolThere are many things that you can use to create second levels in your crabitat, many of which you can find relatively inexpensively and around or made for the home.Some of the things I've tried in my own tank are:- nets strung like hammock and filled with a damp hermit safe moss like sphagnum- dish strainer suspended by suction cups. This one didn't quite work out as I'd hoped. I tried to use it as a shell shop but it wasn't sturdy enough and when the middle sagged all the shells rolled but it had a hole in the center meant for allowing access to your drain plug and it perfectly fit a round Gladware container filled with moss, fruit slices or calcium.- stack shelves (another pic), was playing with arrangement in a new tank) not only helped maximize the space of a 20g ISO so I'd have room for two large crabs, their water dishes and shells but the height and wide opening underside made a nice hidey for them. I covered the wire grid with a piece of coconut fiber climbing mat so they could walk and do shell changes without putting their legs through the holes. I put shells up there and propped woods to help them up. For privacy I draped plants around it and tie wrapped a cholla log on both ends to make a guard rail and prevent the shells from rolling off.- a shower caddy filled with moss makes for a popular hangout. There's four or five crabs in that pic.- plastic storage tray, another pic, : like the others it's suspended with suction cups and has a coconut fiber mat floor. I cut a section off the wide to prop a cork bark ramp against it. You can also see a shower caddy on the right of the first pic. On this one I strung vines all around the tank and caddy for access but they weren't big on that. They appear to like a more sure footing like woods or climbing mat.- coconut fiber matsold by garden nurseries and cut by the foot makes it's own fun. This one was just a few bucks per foot and was an inch thick and loose weave so water didn't roll off it. It's wide enough for crabs to perch on top without rolling off and can be easily climbed without teasing. I wiggled 3 holes in it with a knife, one on each end and one in the center to hang it.I found another shower caddy, a long rectangle one so I put two corners on each end and the rectangle one on the back wall. I pulled the suction cups off the shower caddies and then reattached them after I put them through the net holes. I used a few Power Lock suction cups too to hang the remainder of the net in a big diamond shape that allows the crabs to go from one caddy to the furthest one without ever touching the substrate.

PSUPrncess10 · Post by **PSUPrncess10** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 9:32 am

quote:Originally posted by picklepie1212:Do you know anywhere (other than walmart) that I could get those shower caddies from? I've looked and looked and WM just doesn't have them. I really want some! At the moment I just have the storage baskets on suction cups, but they're a little precarious. Check Target and the Dollar Store... I got a suction cup soap dish at the dollar store (I believe they had the other ones though too) cuz I wanted to elevate my cuttles off the substrate so they didn't get all wet and sandy/EE-yAnd my second level is a rectangular tupperware dish with the outside covered in coco mat and I set it atop those clear plastic cake columns (found in the wedding section of Michaels/Walmart)... it has some substrate and shells in it... the baby is hiding up there right nowI'll post a pic later, but we're running to Subway in a sec to get dinner lol

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:27 pm

I bought a corner shower and two regular soap holders with suction cups on them at The Dollar Tree. My crabbies haven't ventured on them yet.

PSUPrncess10 · Post by **PSUPrncess10** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 5:06 pm

Here's my second level after my most recent deep clean about a month or so ago:

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:51 pm

I got these two shower dishes at Target. There are a bunch of different shapes and sizes there. I bought the biggest ones they had for my 75 gallon. I'm fairly sure they were under $10. CA - I put a link to the URL here also since you are putting it in archives:Shell shop and moss pits

breezeetew · Post by **breezeetew** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:22 am

I use a locker shelf that the kids didn't want for school.I put a bit of coconut matting from the garden center on top to cover the holes and put the pop on legs through some net for easy climbing. I secured everything with aquarium sealant and it has lasted several months without any adjustments. I am happy with it, although I see the crabs climbing the plastic legs often rather than the net.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:22 am

I had bought a plastic house for my guinea pigs. They didn't like it. It was in two sections with half of a circle cut out in each side to use as an entrance. I took a coconut mat and covered it, then put it in the tank. It added a econd level. They can climb up the sides. They also like to hang out under in the cave. There is room on top for one of the water dishes and some plants they hide in. It is 4 inches wide and eight inches long. It sits above the main floor two and a half inches.

JessG1179 · Post by **JessG1179** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:22 am

i use hemp nets and suction cup shower caddies. to hold up the net i got some heavy duty suction cups at walmart (my crabs kept tearing the cheap-o ones down). i also got the shower caddy there for $5. i added some fake plant garland so they can climb around to the levels.HERE are some pics of my 10g.the possibilities are endless if you use your imagination!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:22 am

I use a couple of little tupperware type tray things I got at the dollar store. They are hung up with suction cups with hooks that grab the holes. I used silicon on the cups since I can't even keep enough humidity to whistle in my tanks - the darn things kept falling off. I also use fake plant garland and filled the little trays with ee and shells. PS - I also put my 2nd levels over a hut or some other largish thing in the tank in case it ever does fall, nobody will be crushed.

Crabby Abby · Post by **Crabby Abby** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:22 am

You have to be careful with woods and PVC pipe. Choose only woods from the safe woods list and don't use PVC in a horizontal position where the ends are exposed and can be chewed on if you must use it at all. There's something in it that can be harmful to hermits.