Why won't my hermies climb lol

[hannah.swaney]

Sooooo I'm super crafty and love to make little things. I read that crabs love to climb and stuff (and am on a budget so premade things at pet stores just weren't an option for me) so I crafted a couple climbing structures (complete with crab friendly ramps and a bridge) with non painted wood and hemp string. They have not taken to it at all lol and I've tried to encourage them with putting some food and a dried carrot treat up there but it's still a no-go. The other day I thought "maybe if I put them on it (like a cat with a little box ya know lol) they'll recognize it and start climbing"....these little goofballs just walked off the side of it, thank goodness I use sand and the platform isnt very high so it was a soft landing but still, I'm kinda sad they don't like it lol. Any tips?

[hannah.swaney]

Litter box* lol not little box

[Hermiecrab]

Some times crabs just aren't in the mood. They may take to it eventually. Some crabs like to climb more than others. I'm a big DIYer as well, so if you have any ideas please share!

[hannah.swaney]

If I knew how to add pictures on here I'd post one lol. But I've got 3 platforms made from untreated wooden dowel rods (super skinny ones since I didn't want to take up much floor space) and untreated popsicle sticks held together with hemp twine and aquarium sealant. I was going for kind of a beach pier look. One platform sits maybe 3 inches off the sand with a ladder ramp to the sand (I cut one of those horrible mesh wire cages apart and used some of that as the under side for the ramp so they can climb on top or hang out on the bottom). That platform has another ramp leading up to a platform that is a bit taller (I even put "fence posts" with hemp cord railings so they can't crawl off the side of the tall ones lol). And I crafted a rope bridge with the popsicle sticks and hemp (also with posts and hemp railing so they don't fall) that leads to another platform the same height. I have a store bought Hermie hut under one and a medium size conch shell my grandma found on the beach (luckiest find ever lol) buried halfway in the sand to also make a crabbie apartment lol. Also have a piece of white coral that my grandma found on the beach in the middle of their little "town square". Under the smallest platform is where I plan to put their salt water lagoon when I find the right tray to use. I really pimped it out for them. I'm on a tight budget so I'm slowly but surely getting it all together, next on my list is a heating pad cuz it stays on the cooler side of their preferred temperature in my house, but I have the tank sitting in a place where it gets direct sunlight for about 2 hours in the morning so that helps warm it up in there a bit. I got so many human compliments on their Crabitat but they just aren't impressed lol

[hannah.swaney]

They're very active though, plenty of tracks in the sand every morning when I get up , and I can tell they're eating well so I'm just human level salty I guess lmao. I did read on google that they don't rely on sight too much so I thought maybe they were just having a hard time navigating their way to and on it...idk time will tell I guess

[Hermiecrab]

That sounds so awesome! Just remember the tray should be deep enough for your biggest crab to completely submerge. How big of a tank do you have? I'm on a tight budget too, but there is no end to the useful things you can find outside (and sanitize of course!) and DIY

[JTKermie]

That does sound amazing. Some of you all are so creative with that stuff! I've got some maple branches and fake plants in my hermie's 29gal. I've seen them climb a few times, but I've only had the setup about 2 weeks.

[hannah.swaney]

20"long x 10" deep x 8"wide....not sure how many gallons that is cuz I got the tank from my cousin becuz the cage they sold me at the beach with my first crab "Jo-da Crab" (my 4 year old named her lol) was just inhumane so I was asking everybody for hand me down tanks lol. Planning on getting a really big one at tax time and a couple more crabs cuz it's just Jo-da and Hoaloha ("friend" in Hawaiian since we got him as a friend for Jo) in there right now. But I measured the tank and then drew blueprints to scale and everything before building it. Felt like a mini construction worker lmao

[smolmuffin]

20"long x 10" deep x 8"wide....not sure how many gallons that is

Likely a 10 gallon. Mine has very similar dimensions.

As for the lack of climbing, every crab is different. Some love it while others don't. (Looks at Bean who has claimed the top of my coconut and ladder hide) They might also have a couple of issues with the surface and aren't getting the best grip but from what I've seen and what you've described I don't think that is the issue.

Give them time. They might want to explore soon.