First Post And First Tank Setup.

[Randy2747]

Constructive criticism is welcome please.

We went on vacation my gf daughter got two hermit crabs in a metal fence cage. Once home I started reading and realized the cage is a death trap. So thanks to everyone here who posted and helped others I set up my first tank.

I do have a few concerns though. I have a 10 gallon tank sitting in what use to be a flower cabinet. I have two hermits in this tank. I know everyone says 10 gallons per hermit but I already had this built before reading that info. My question is that when they say 10 gallon per hermit is that because of the amount of sand? Or room to move around? Hopefully it's room to move around. The whole setup is like a 40 gallon because of the height.

I do have a reptile humidity maker in this cabinet because they is alot of cracks around the glass. I sealed a lot with tape but with the humidity machine it keeps my humidity around 80.

This leads me to my second question, if my cabinet is always 80 humidity should I still spray my sand or will the humidity keep sand wet enough? Right now I can take a cup and make a sand castle. I was wondering if anyone else is using a humidity maker and how they treat their tank.

Thank you and if you have any questions, concerns, or comments please let me know I am here to learn and don't get offended.

Randy

[Randy2747]

I forgot to mention that I have a heat pad outside of the flower cabin and under the tank (not under the aquarium inside the tank) I also have another heat pad directly behind the aquarium on the wall of the floor cabinet and there is about a ⅛" gap between the aquarium and the heat pad. I have a third heating pad all along the green moss wall in the middle of the tank. The heat bulb is just temporary and I will be removing it.

[curlysister]

That's a cool looking set up! I like it! HCA doesn't go by ten gallons per crab - it depends on the size of the crabs. When calculating how many are appropriate in a tank, the 'foot print' is what is used to calculate molting space, which is the limiting factor. Vertical space is great, but your foot print will still be equivalent to a ten gallon. But if your crabs are small, that is lots of space. I had my two crabs in a ten gallon for a few years before I upgraded.

Here's our care sheet:
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=92541

If your substrate is sand castle consistency and your humidity is good, don't mist - that will just add extra moisture and increase your risk of flooding. Heat lamps are just fine, as long as your humidity is good - the risk is that in some climates they will dry out the tank too much. I'm tired and not understanding where your heat mats are though LOL.

[Randy2747]

Thank you for the help I appreciate it. With the humidifier on I am maintaining around 80% humidity and so far I am still able to make a sand castle

One heat pad is on the outside of the whole cabinet and under the cabinet.

The other heat pad is directly behind the aquarium but inside the cabinet. Our hermies can not get to that wire because it's between the aquarium and the cabinet.

The third heat pad is inside the cabinet BUT behind the green moss wall that goes up the back of the cabinet.

Both heat pads inside of the cabinet has the wires running behind the aquarium then running out of the back of cabinet. I hope I explained that better this time sorry if I confused you on the first post.

[curlysister]

Ah, there is an aquarium INSIDE a cabinet! I think I get it now.