Substrate is drying out!...

[jdauby09]

I went to give my crabs food and replace the water and such tonight and I noticed the substrate is dry for the first inch or so...I have the 5:1 ratio of EE and play sand. My humidity is staying at 98% with an accurate digital hydrometer and Temps are upper 70s to low 80s...should I mist the tank every few days to try to get back to the sandcastle consistency?

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[soilentgringa]

If your humidity is fine and your substrate is only drying out on the top, just try to churn it up a little when your crabs are up. As long as you can stick a chopstick or wooden spoon handle down into the substrate and the hole not collapse, your sub is okay.

[jdauby09]

The hole is collapsing though and I have 2 large crabs down right now. I have an idea of where they are but not positive and I am worried that if I churn it then I might collapse their tunnels.

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[CrabMater]

Hi, i mist my sub bc it dries out on the top layer. I too churn sub once all crabs are topside so i can rehydrate sub/ add water etc. My tank is on the smaller end (a 40B ) so its still managable for me.

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[soilentgringa]

If the substrate won't hold tunnels at all you need to very carefully dig the crabs up and fix your substrate.

[jdauby09]

If the substrate won't hold tunnels at all you need to very carefully dig the crabs up and fix your substrate.

It will hold below the top inch...it's just that top inch is what isn't holding if that makes sense...

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[aussieJJDude]

Oh, if its the top inch, it should be fine. Just ensure when misting you don't 'over mist', increasing the chances of flooding in the lower levels.

Do you use a heat lamp by chance?

[jdauby09]

Oh, if its the top inch, it should be fine. Just ensure when misting you don't 'over mist', increasing the chances of flooding in the lower levels.

Do you use a heat lamp by chance?

Ok no I have a uth on the back of the tat

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[wodesorel]

Please consider calibrating (checking the accuracy of) the hyrgometer as well, there are instructions in the Care Sheet section. It could be stuck at 98% or reading higher then it actually is. With humidity that high I don't often see drying substrate.

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