One UTH or two?

Menidia · Post by **Menidia** » Tue May 30, 2017 5:40 pm

Hi! I just started with hermit crabs and have 3 PPs and a 20 gallon tank. Right now I have a 16W Reptitherm under tank heater. It's only bringing the temperature to 70 (ambient is about 55). I am wondering if I should get another medium or small, or scrap it and get a large?

Any feedback is appreciated!

CrabMater · Post by **CrabMater** » Tue May 30, 2017 5:45 pm

Hello, how deep is your sub? When i started crabbin i had heat/humidity problems. Once my sub was deep emough , 5+ inches, temps and humidity came right up. More experienced crabbbers believe 80-85 F is your optimal tank temps.
Also: is reptitherm insulatable? I have a Ultratherm, and they definitely are able to be wrapped, check and see. Additional insulation will help trap warm air.
Youll get lots of helpful advice here.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Hermiearth · Post by **Hermiearth** » Tue May 30, 2017 6:30 pm

Welcome to the HCA! Is the ultra therm on the back of the tank above the substrate level?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Menidia · Post by **Menidia** » Tue May 30, 2017 7:10 pm

I have about the same (5") substrate, back mounted

Hermiearth · Post by **Hermiearth** » Tue May 30, 2017 7:36 pm

The HCA recommends a minimum of 6" of substrate or 3x the height of your largest crab, whichever is deeper- for the best chance for successful molting. As for the heat, 80 is the recommended minimum. Personally I would order one as big as the full back of your tank- stick it on with reflectix tape, and than tape on a sheet of reflectix insulation.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Post by **wodesorel** » Tue May 30, 2017 8:32 pm

I'd recommend getting a larger pad as well, one that fits across the back. You can always use the smaller one you have now on a side if you ever need a heat boost come winter.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Menidia · Post by **Menidia** » Wed May 31, 2017 3:29 pm

Thanks for the replies! I'll definitely be looking into another heater. I might actually need to order some sand as I can't actually find any in stores (recently moved so figuring things out still)

Hermias_mom · Post by **Hermias_mom** » Wed May 31, 2017 3:37 pm

Menidia wrote:Thanks for the replies! I'll definitely be looking into another heater. I might actually need to order some sand as I can't actually find any in stores (recently moved so figuring things out still)

Check out Ultratherm brand (sold from beanfarm.com or reptilebasics.com) or Flukers brand UTHs. Both of these can be safely insulated when you need to insulate during winter months, and the Ultratherm at least is repositionable (I'm not as familiar with Flukers). Most other brands of UTH don't work as well for heating air in the crabitat.

Also I use a thermostat to keep my temp stable at 80-83 (peace of mind).

Welcome to HCA! Best of luck!

Post by **wodesorel** » Wed May 31, 2017 4:05 pm

Check where the concrete is sold for the playsand. It's usually stored indoors and kept dry so that it can be used to make cement mixes.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Menidia · Post by **Menidia** » Thu Jun 01, 2017 6:10 pm

Thank you all for your feedback! Just ordered an ultratherm and am going sand shopping this weekend!

Menidia · Post by **Menidia** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 7:31 pm

Temperature is now at 81 and humidity at 80!

Hermias_mom · Post by **Hermias_mom** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 7:28 am

Yea!!! Your crabs will be super happy!!!

LadyJinglyJones · Post by **LadyJinglyJones** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 10:24 pm

Nice!

HCA: Hermit Crab Association

One UTH or two?

One UTH or two?

Re: One UTH or two?

Re: One UTH or two?

Re: One UTH or two?

Re: One UTH or two?

Re: One UTH or two?

Re: One UTH or two?

Re: One UTH or two?

Re: One UTH or two?

Re: One UTH or two?

Re: One UTH or two?

Re: One UTH or two?

Re: One UTH or two?