Humidity
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Topic author - Posts: 247
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Re: Humidity
Ick!
How deep should the moss pit be?
How deep should the moss pit be?
Just a new crabber trying to take the best care of her crabs she can. :)
5 Purple Pinchers, 15 gallon tank. (4 small, 1 medium.)
5 Purple Pinchers, 15 gallon tank. (4 small, 1 medium.)
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Re: Humidity
I don't think there is really guidelines on how deep it should be, mine is pretty small. I guess just deep enough for the crab to bury? I think you can do it however you want though.
I love my two cool crabs Zote and Fizban.
And my cats Echo and Smudge.
And my cats Echo and Smudge.
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Re: Humidity
Yeah, whatever depth you want is fine. Most people just fill the basket or container of their choice
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Topic author - Posts: 247
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Re: Humidity
Cool! Where can I get the moss?
Just a new crabber trying to take the best care of her crabs she can. :)
5 Purple Pinchers, 15 gallon tank. (4 small, 1 medium.)
5 Purple Pinchers, 15 gallon tank. (4 small, 1 medium.)
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- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2024 2:04 pm
Re: Humidity
https://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB ... hp?t=92533
Just make sure it is not dyed( if it is green it is dyed) and that it has been sprayed with no pesticides.
Just make sure it is not dyed( if it is green it is dyed) and that it has been sprayed with no pesticides.

I love my two cool crabs Zote and Fizban.
And my cats Echo and Smudge.
And my cats Echo and Smudge.
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- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2024 2:04 pm
Re: Humidity
I also wanted to add that you should put some green sand and worm castings in there too. The crabs like them and they are very healthy too.
You can keep them in 24/7 too.
You can keep them in 24/7 too.
I love my two cool crabs Zote and Fizban.
And my cats Echo and Smudge.
And my cats Echo and Smudge.
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Re: Substrate
Somewhere in the myths of crab care, someone said to put the substrate in dry and that it would become moist with the humidity in the tank. This is not correct. It was a misunderstanding from someone who said that they didn't add any water - but in reality their sand was already wet when the bag was opened.HermitGuy3 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:52 pmSince you already have crabs, you should not do that I think. The humidity on the tank gets the sub to the right consistency after a few weeks. That is before you have your crabs. The moss pit, big water pools, and other things that help humidity. I would just let your substrate be for now. Probably if you upgrade!![]()
The substrate should be moistened to sand castle consistency from the start.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers
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Re: Humidity
Green sand and worm castings are not 'must haves' for crabs. You can feed them if you want, but there are no specific foods that need to be given to crabs all the time.HermitGuy3 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 10:44 pmI also wanted to add that you should put some green sand and worm castings in there too. The crabs like them and they are very healthy too.
You can keep them in 24/7 too.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers
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Re: Substrate
This is not true? Their have been multiple accounts of people using this method and it works. CrabCentralStation uses this method and their substrate is just fine. They have over 700 gallons of tank space.You just have to let the tank run for a few weeks before putting the crabs in, and it will be the right consistency.curlysister wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2025 12:54 amSomewhere in the myths of crab care, someone said to put the substrate in dry and that it would become moist with the humidity in the tank. This is not correct. It was a misunderstanding from someone who said that they didn't add any water - but in reality their sand was already wet when the bag was opened.
The substrate should be moistened to sand castle consistency from the start.
I love my two cool crabs Zote and Fizban.
And my cats Echo and Smudge.
And my cats Echo and Smudge.
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Topic author - Posts: 247
- Joined: Sun Jan 19, 2025 9:38 pm
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Green Sand?
What is green sand?
Last edited by C: ClareCrabOwner :) on Thu Feb 06, 2025 9:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
Just a new crabber trying to take the best care of her crabs she can. :)
5 Purple Pinchers, 15 gallon tank. (4 small, 1 medium.)
5 Purple Pinchers, 15 gallon tank. (4 small, 1 medium.)
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Topic author - Posts: 247
- Joined: Sun Jan 19, 2025 9:38 pm
- Location: United States of America
Worm Castings
Where is a good place to get worm castings?
Just a new crabber trying to take the best care of her crabs she can. :)
5 Purple Pinchers, 15 gallon tank. (4 small, 1 medium.)
5 Purple Pinchers, 15 gallon tank. (4 small, 1 medium.)
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Topic author - Posts: 247
- Joined: Sun Jan 19, 2025 9:38 pm
- Location: United States of America
Dry substrate
Also, I don't think I'd put my substrate in dry, because then I would have to rehydrate the coco coir, then dry it, then put it in the cage. A lot of work, only for it to be moistened again...
But thank you for the suggestion, HermitGuy3!
But thank you for the suggestion, HermitGuy3!
Just a new crabber trying to take the best care of her crabs she can. :)
5 Purple Pinchers, 15 gallon tank. (4 small, 1 medium.)
5 Purple Pinchers, 15 gallon tank. (4 small, 1 medium.)
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- Posts: 197
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2024 2:04 pm
Re: Dry substrate
Yeah, I think you can do it either way and it is good.C: ClareCrabOwner :) wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2025 9:26 amAlso, I don't think I'd put my substrate in dry, because then I would have to rehydrate the coco coir, then dry it, then put it in the cage. A lot of work, only for it to be moistened again...
But thank you for the suggestion, HermitGuy3!
I love my two cool crabs Zote and Fizban.
And my cats Echo and Smudge.
And my cats Echo and Smudge.
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Re: Substrate
If you want to follow another group's care guidelines, that's fine. But don't post the info here like it is another option for care. Different groups have different guidelines. HCA does not recommend putting substrate in dry. Moisture needs to come from somewhere, it needs to be added to the substrate one way or another.HermitGuy3 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2025 2:44 amThis is not true? Their have been multiple accounts of people using this method and it works. CrabCentralStation uses this method and their substrate is just fine. They have over 700 gallons of tank space.You just have to let the tank run for a few weeks before putting the crabs in, and it will be the right consistency.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers
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Re: Humidity
Substrate must be kept damp enough for crabs to be able to dig tunnels without it caving in on them (sandcastle consistency) so they can breathe underground and surface safely when ready, but not so wet that water pools at bottom of tank. Crabs often molt at very bottom of tank and if too much water accumulates in substrate, it sinks to the bottom causing underground crabs to drown. Also the smaller the tank, the easier it is to oversaturate. (ie too many tipped water bowls or too frequent misting) Sub should also be deep enough that your largest crab can dig at least 3 times his size (including shell). For example, I have a 29 gal. Tank which is 18" tall and filled with about 10" of sand & ee mix. My largest crab is about the size of a baseball. Substrate, temp and humidity are 3 of the most important aspects of crab keeping. As mentioned by another crabber, 72F is the bare minimum temp, tho I prefer keeping mine around 80-84F daytime and 76-80 nighttime. And I find my crabs are most active with humidity levels at 80% or above. I wouldn't recommend anything lower than 70% for more than a few hours. Until you are confident you have reached your ideal tank conditions in your first tank, I would highly recommend holding off on trying to set up a second tank. In my opinion 1 overcrowded tank with otherwise ideal conditions is far better for the crabs than 2 roomier tanks that do not meet all their basic needs. There are many other important needs to be met other than the 3 I have mentioned here, (such as the correct size, fit, type of shells, quality food, dechlorinated salt and fresh water, etc) but all of that info can be found in diff topics on this site. This is the only site I refer to/ trust to be true. I have been coming here for years and the admins have never let me down. My crabs are 8+ yrs strong and just added a few more last week!