Tank Type & Heater

[Kaybugscrabs]

We have a Polycarbonate (Lexan) glass terrarium. Is anyone using this type with a heater? I am finding lots of conflicting information about heaters and plastic terrariums. I know it needs to go on the back and I need a Thermostat but is the safe for the crabs and not going to end up a pile of melted plastic fire hazard?

[wodesorel]

There have been crabbers in the past with a UTH setup that worked on their acrylic tanks. I remember one had a 90 gallon and was worried on setup but she was an active member for years and was happy with how it was holding up. With glass tanks the thermostat is usually optional, but it is pretty much necessary with acrylic just because of the risk of warping over time. She used an Ultratherm, which is highly recommended and tends to be very stable and even with it's heat.

However, I'm not sure if the plastic formulas have changed any. They probably have over time to increase clarity and maybe got a little thinner to save costs, but the old acrylics held up very similar to glass. If you're seeing mixed reviews that may be why. You're not going to see any official recommendations from any acrylic manufacturer or UTH company. There is a higher risk there and it's fairly easy to avoid by going with glass instead, but people do use UTH with plastic bins on a regular basis so plastic alone shouldn't cause an issue. Lexan unfortunately behaves a little differently (thin lids are known to bow strongly) and a lot of that will be based on thickness and construction.

Something else to think about as well is the damage from the sand substrate and crabs' claws. I worry about those causing havoc on the interior with haze and scratches, because crabs often circle the perimeter and try to climb the invisible barrier. It comes down to the individual crab, but some of mine do it all night every night. If this is a terrarium that you're planning on reusing later then it's something to keep in mind, as I know they aren't cheap!