Toys for tank upgrade and other questions

[ChonkyCrabsLover]

Hello! I am about to upgrade the tank my 2 PPs are in and I am wondering what toys to add since I will have so much more space. Some of the toys I have currently are a giant fake plant they love to climb, a big piece of driftwood, sticks of cholla wood, and a DIY coconut that I cut in half and made into a little house that they love. Some of the ideas I have currently are an exercise wheel, more plants, big rocks, maybe some fake vines, and another climbing wall or second level. I have made climbing walls and second levels in the past that always work great for a week and the crabs love them, but sadly the suctions cups always stop working and would keep falling off and driving me insane. If you can, please include a link to your most trustworthy suction cups LOL. What toys and decor do your crabs love and you recommend?

Also, what hamster wheel do you use and does it need to be grippy for the crabs to use it and make it turn?

Third, how many inches of sand should I have now? On the internet, everyone has such different takes on how much sand they should have and I don’t know a good number or rule of thumb to go by. Before, I was in a terrarium and was kinda scared the glass would break because it wasn’t meant to hold that much sand. They will be in an aquarium instead of a terrarium so that it is strong enough to hold the weight of all of that sand. My crabs are in around 0.75 to 0.80in opening shells and I have had them for 2 years. The old tank currently has around 5-6 in of sand in it. I’m guessing maybe to have maybe 6-7+ in of sand in the new one? Idk.

Thank you!

[curlysister]

I am not much help with a few of your questions - I have never found suction cups that worked either! And I have never had a wheel. Just the same things as you for climbing and hiding.

HCA recommends that the substrate be 2 to 3 times as deep as your largest crab. Some people do have deeper sub, but that increases the risk of bacterial bloom way down where no oxygen gets to.

[ChonkyCrabsLover]

Ok! Thank you! I think around 6-7in of substrate will work in the new tank because that is around 3 times their shell size. I just found a post on the HCA that shows how to add the mesh to the hamster wheel and can’t wait to make it! I have seen so many videos and pictures of crabs on hamster wheels and now really want to make one. I will probably try to find another giant fake plant at the pet store since they love to climb and hide under the one I currently have and maybe find a rock for them to climb from outside and then wash it. Thanks!