New crabitat. Need advice please!

[PinkPossum87]

hey everyone. Im just getting started with my setup. It's a 20 gallon. Looking for any advice or tips. I know i def still need a few things. I have to get the sand, i already have the coco fiber. Already have the saltwater mix. I Have the water conditioner. Im going to get a different light. And im going to replace the standard aquarium hood with a piece of plexiglass. And i need shells of course. I feel like my bowls are a bit too big. What do y'all think on those? I think id rather get a bit smaller and a tad deeper but i have no idea what size my crabs will be yet. I do want to get them a wheel, I've seen some people use a regular hamster wheel and some using the saucer style, what are y'all opinions? Id really like 3 crabs and I've seen some debate on 2 vs 3 in a 20 gallon. I do have a small piece of "wood" i could use instead of the tree, but the tree has a built in hide and tons of climbing space. But the other would give more surface room. Im super excited so please be kind. I want to do right by them!

https://ibb.co/MNvjm4Y

[curlysister]

Good planning! Be sure to read our care sheets for info about the proper dechlorinator and marine salt to use.
And there is also a care sheet that outlines how many crabs of what size are appropriate in a tank of what size.
Welcome to crabbing!

[Pumpkincrab]

Hello and WELCOME to HermitCrabAssociation!
I’d be more than happy to give you some advice. I have to say, I love the fact that you’re planning out your tank ahead of time. That’s exactly what I do with my tanks, so nicely done! It provides room to spot issues and make changes before you actually have crabs in your tank.
First off, I'd think that the current pools/"dishes" you have are too shallow. You can easily make water dishes with a few materials, out of tupperware. If you'd like, I can explain/show you how to do so. It’s relatively cheap.
Secondly, I have never used the saucer type of wheel, but I have used the i.e. “regular” hamster wheel. My crabs have LOVED the wheel. I had to take it out a bit ago, however, due to some rust. I got mine on Etsy, from CoenobitaCuriosities. Keep in mind, it is relatively big and might not fit. Here's the link to their shop, it is closed at the moment due to them moving: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoenobitaCuri ... _purchases
For a 20-gallon tank, I would recommend two crabs. I understand that it’s tempting to get three, but you do not want resource fights and/or deaths.
For the wood/tree debate, you could always stack the wood on top of the tree? Hermit crabs love to climb. Give it a shot and see how it looks!
I’d like to ask a few questions:
What heat source are you planning on using, and where will it be placed?
What food are you planning on feeding?
Where do you plan on getting shells/what kind?

Let me know any other questions you have. I love designing tanks, and it can be quite important! I'm excited to help you start your crabbing journey!

[PinkPossum87]

Hello and WELCOME to HermitCrabAssociation!
I’d be more than happy to give you some advice. I have to say, I love the fact that you’re planning out your tank ahead of time. That’s exactly what I do with my tanks, so nicely done! It provides room to spot issues and make changes before you actually have crabs in your tank.
First off, I'd think that the current pools/"dishes" you have are too shallow. You can easily make water dishes with a few materials, out of tupperware. If you'd like, I can explain/show you how to do so. It’s relatively cheap.
Secondly, I have never used the saucer type of wheel, but I have used the i.e. “regular” hamster wheel. My crabs have LOVED the wheel. I had to take it out a bit ago, however, due to some rust. I got mine on Etsy, from CoenobitaCuriosities. Keep in mind, it is relatively big and might not fit. Here's the link to their shop, it is closed at the moment due to them moving: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoenobitaCuri ... _purchases
For a 20-gallon tank, I would recommend two crabs. I understand that it’s tempting to get three, but you do not want resource fights and/or deaths.
For the wood/tree debate, you could always stack the wood on top of the tree? Hermit crabs love to climb. Give it a shot and see how it looks!
I’d like to ask a few questions:
What heat source are you planning on using, and where will it be placed?
What food are you planning on feeding?
Where do you plan on getting shells/what kind?

Let me know any other questions you have. I love designing tanks, and it can be quite important! I'm excited to help you start your crabbing journey!

Thanks for your response!

I was debating on the dishes. I can def do some other ones. The first one is a bit deeper than it looks. But it would depend on the size of crab. Im hoping to find ones as small as i can, i really want to watch them grow. But they take up a lot of space as well. So i do think I'll swap them out for sure.

Thanks on the wheel. To me the saucer seemed like it would be less natural for them. But wanted to see what others thought.

I have 2 under the tank hester mats I'll put on the back. I forgot to mention in the post i already had those. Lol

The other wood piece won't fit on top of the tree. It's a larger piece. Just not as big as the tree. But it's shorter so not as much climbing. The tree also has a nice hide in it. The back has some rocky area so there's stuff to explore behind it as well. I already know im going to end up with a bigger tank at some point. I have a 30 gallon. But it's a long. By the time you had substrate it's just too short. But i think the tree will work for now and I'll end up upgrading tanks later. The crabs are going to take over my life. I already see it. Lol.

I've been watching a lot of the feeding videos by central crab station and going to use some of their recommended products. And im a vegetarian so when i cook dinner I'll be saving part of it for them lol. Been going over their safe and non safe foods etc and what percentage of protein they need and all of that good stuff.

I haven't decided on where to get the shells yet. A lot of packs seem to look the same and i k ow i need a good variety for them to have plenty of options. Id appreciate some recommendations on that one for sure!

[Pumpkincrab]

You'd be shocked just how fast hermit crabs can grow. It's vital for crabs to be able to fully submerge, including their shell, underwater. I'll try and send you a PM within the next couple days on how to put together the pools.
For the wood- if it doesn't fit, then for sure save it for a larger tank. In the meantime, you can always fill in with fake plants/foliage. I have tons of fake plants and vines in my tank and it really brightens it up, and the crabs love it as well- I'm sure it helps them feel safer.
I agree, you'll become 100% invested once you start your crabbing journey! I started with a (maybe?) 15 gallon, then moved up to a 20, a 29, and around a year ago I upgraded to a 55 gallon. The 55-gallon build lasted around 8 months from the first plans to moving my crabs into it. It's always a good idea to plan your tank out first, and make sure everything looks how you want it to look before adding crabs- once you do, it's MUCH harder to make changes, small or big.
Good job researching food. If you have any questions regarding dietary needs, let me know. I sell hermit crab food so I consider myself to be pretty well educated on their dietary needs.
What size shells you need obviously depends on the size of your crabs. I have 4 crabs and quite a lot of shells, I'd estimate 15-20. They're a mix of small, just right, and too big depending on the crab in question. From my personal experience, shells sold at pet stores tend to be lackluster or dangerous (ex: painted, "glow in the dark" ). I'd recommend setting a firm idea on the size of crabs you're looking to obtain then purchase shells from that idea. For example, if you're looking for medium-sized crabs, be looking for shells with an opening of 1" + inches. Purchasing shells online is a good way to go and often cheaper with better quality shells. Some sellers I'd recommend:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/OutIslandEsse ... _purchases Turbos and magpies are always a great options. I only provide my crabs with turbos and they love them. Magpies work too, but are much heavier and not always preferred.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/691967755/ ... ch_click=1 Never bought from them before, but have good reviews and great-looking shells.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheGourmetCra ... ugg_market This is my shop. I do have two (used) shells for sale.

Here is HCA's seller list. Check out their shell section: https://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/p ... 2&t=119315
The sellers I listed are just a few of them. Spend some time on Etsy, Amazon, and even Offerup/Craigslist to see what you can find. There are countless amazing shops out there to source from.
Let me know if you have any other questions

[curlysister]

A couple of things...I'm a vegetarian also, but we do need to feed our crabs animal proteins - you don't have to start eating meat, LOL, you can get dried foods that have animal protein.
As for the pools, I have two Purple Pinchers and have never had pools deep enough to submerge. PPs are known to be more into wading and toe-dipping instead of swimming. There are some species that do tend to swim more, and people do provide pools for enrichment as well. But if you are getting PPs, you may be fine with wading vs swimming pools.
I'm not a big Etsy shopper. I have purchased shells from Naples Sea Shells, and foods/ supplies (and at one time they had small shells but not sure if they still carry shells at all) from Hermit Crab Patch.

[PinkPossum87]

You'd be shocked just how fast hermit crabs can grow. It's vital for crabs to be able to fully submerge, including their shell, underwater. I'll try and send you a PM within the next couple days on how to put together the pools.
For the wood- if it doesn't fit, then for sure save it for a larger tank. In the meantime, you can always fill in with fake plants/foliage. I have tons of fake plants and vines in my tank and it really brightens it up, and the crabs love it as well- I'm sure it helps them feel safer.
I agree, you'll become 100% invested once you start your crabbing journey! I started with a (maybe?) 15 gallon, then moved up to a 20, a 29, and around a year ago I upgraded to a 55 gallon. The 55-gallon build lasted around 8 months from the first plans to moving my crabs into it. It's always a good idea to plan your tank out first, and make sure everything looks how you want it to look before adding crabs- once you do, it's MUCH harder to make changes, small or big.
Good job researching food. If you have any questions regarding dietary needs, let me know. I sell hermit crab food so I consider myself to be pretty well educated on their dietary needs.
What size shells you need obviously depends on the size of your crabs. I have 4 crabs and quite a lot of shells, I'd estimate 15-20. They're a mix of small, just right, and too big depending on the crab in question. From my personal experience, shells sold at pet stores tend to be lackluster or dangerous (ex: painted, "glow in the dark" ). I'd recommend setting a firm idea on the size of crabs you're looking to obtain then purchase shells from that idea. For example, if you're looking for medium-sized crabs, be looking for shells with an opening of 1" + inches. Purchasing shells online is a good way to go and often cheaper with better quality shells. Some sellers I'd recommend:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/OutIslandEsse ... _purchases Turbos and magpies are always a great options. I only provide my crabs with turbos and they love them. Magpies work too, but are much heavier and not always preferred.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/691967755/ ... ch_click=1 Never bought from them before, but have good reviews and great-looking shells.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheGourmetCra ... ugg_market This is my shop. I do have two (used) shells for sale.

Here is HCA's seller list. Check out their shell section: https://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/p ... 2&t=119315
The sellers I listed are just a few of them. Spend some time on Etsy, Amazon, and even Offerup/Craigslist to see what you can find. There are countless amazing shops out there to source from.
Let me know if you have any other questions

I def do have more plants to add in. Just seemed pointless to throw every single one in right now. But there's def more! Some of it im just waiting tonight the last little bit i need so i can fully put it all together.

Thanks for the list, I'll definitely be checking those out for sure.

What's your opinion on a hexagon tank? I do have one of those too. Id thought about using that, but it def doesn't have much floor space, but it's way taller. I was also looking into connecting tanks. But id have absolutely no idea how to go about that.

And yea id def appreciate the info on the pools!

[PinkPossum87]

A couple of things...I'm a vegetarian also, but we do need to feed our crabs animal proteins - you don't have to start eating meat, LOL, you can get dried foods that have animal protein.
As for the pools, I have two Purple Pinchers and have never had pools deep enough to submerge. PPs are known to be more into wading and toe-dipping instead of swimming. There are some species that do tend to swim more, and people do provide pools for enrichment as well. But if you are getting PPs, you may be fine with wading vs swimming pools.
I'm not a big Etsy shopper. I have purchased shells from Naples Sea Shells, and foods/ supplies (and at one time they had small shells but not sure if they still carry shells at all) from Hermit Crab Patch.

Oh absolutely on the protein. I was just saying they'd def be getting fresh veggies too. how in the world do you post pics on here? It has the picture icon but it doesn't bring up a way for me to post actual pics?

[Pumpkincrab]

A couple of things...I'm a vegetarian also, but we do need to feed our crabs animal proteins - you don't have to start eating meat, LOL, you can get dried foods that have animal protein.
As for the pools, I have two Purple Pinchers and have never had pools deep enough to submerge. PPs are known to be more into wading and toe-dipping instead of swimming. There are some species that do tend to swim more, and people do provide pools for enrichment as well. But if you are getting PPs, you may be fine with wading vs swimming pools.
I'm not a big Etsy shopper. I have purchased shells from Naples Sea Shells, and foods/ supplies (and at one time they had small shells but not sure if they still carry shells at all) from Hermit Crab Patch.

I do agree, Curly, my PPs are toe-dippers as well, but I do like to have deeper pools available in case they should want to go deeper into the water.
I completely forgot about Naples Sea Shells, so thank you for mentioning it, as well as Hermit Crab Patch! I've never bought from either, but I've heard great things about them. I'd say that I am definitely an Etsy shopper, so that's where I spend the most of my time in regards to hermit crab supplies!

[Pumpkincrab]

I def do have more plants to add in. Just seemed pointless to throw every single one in right now. But there's def more! Some of it im just waiting tonight the last little bit i need so i can fully put it all together.

Thanks for the list, I'll definitely be checking those out for sure.

What's your opinion on a hexagon tank? I do have one of those too. Id thought about using that, but it def doesn't have much floor space, but it's way taller. I was also looking into connecting tanks. But id have absolutely no idea how to go about that.

And yea id def appreciate the info on the pools!

Personally, I wouldn't go with a hexagon tank, but that's just me. I know of some that have, but I just don't prefer it. If you'd prefer more climbing room, then it can be a good choice, but keep in mind how much room your crabs will have to molt.
I know that CrabCentralStation on YouTube connected a majority of their tanks. I don't believe they have any videos on how they did that, but you can always leave them a comment or email to ask.

[hermitsinnc]

Just chiming in on the wheel/saucer debate: I only have a saucer, and they love it! Jut choose whatever works best for your space/setup. A 20 gal seems huge, but once you add in water dishes, a shell shop, climbing items, hides... it fills up pretty quickly!

[PinkPossum87]

Just chiming in on the wheel/saucer debate: I only have a saucer, and they love it! Jut choose whatever works best for your space/setup. A 20 gal seems huge, but once you add in water dishes, a shell shop, climbing items, hides... it fills up pretty quickly!

Thanks!