About my Crabitat

[Moonlightdreams]

Hello! I'm a new member here and looking for some advice/help with my crabitat. I'm the happy owner of two Purple Pinchers (I believe), and I like to think they're happy too. I will be upgrading them to a 20gal tank within the next week or so, so the information below is what their current living situation is like. I know there are things that could be fixed, and I'm hoping to do just that after I get them settled in their new tank. I copy/pasted the emergency form, but wasn't sure where to put it, so I went with this forum. I'll expand on their food and water situation on the appropriate forum.

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

Quikrete Play Sand, about 5 inches deep, with a plastic butter tub full of cocofiber soil, about the same depth. (Maybe a little less due to the crabs flattening it down.)

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?

Yes, one thermometer/hygrometer, located on the back wall of the tank, about halfway up so the crabs can't climb it. The temperature is usually around 77 degrees, and the humidity ranges from 60%-80%. I've had a little trouble getting it to stay consistent around 75% without saturating the tank too much.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

As of right now, the only heat source is their light, which is on for about 12 hours a day. The outer walls of the tank are wrapped in foil, to help keep the heat in at night, and the lid is covered up to keep the heat in. (With an air hole, of course! Wouldn't want to suffocate them.) We do have a heater to stick on the side, but the tank is acrylic. The heater will be in use as soon as we move them to the glass 20gal.

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?

Only freshwater, at this point. We were told that saltwater was not necessary and it was only through reading the HCA's posts that I came to realise saltwater is needed. There isn't much room for a dish in their tank now, and I don't have the supplies, but once they're in their new tank, I'll get some Instant Ocean, or another mix. We have a well, and the water isn't chlorinated, so no treatment is used.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

FMR crab pellets, unfortunately. I'm looking into getting another commercial brand that has no preservatives or chemicals the next time I have the chance, and they eat more fresh food than the FMR pellets. They seem to really like honey, and they usually get it 1-2 times a week. I offered them shrimp and coconut oil last night, but neither seemed interested. My largest crab hasn't eaten any of the shrimp I've given him, as far as I'm aware, and my new crab didn't seem to care. Honey seems to be the crowd favourite, but I've seen Sheldon, my oldest and largest crab, nibble on grapes and blueberries. He didn't seem interested in the carrot, apple, or banana I offered. I'm looking into making them a blend of food made from birdseed. dried fruit and leaf litter, but more on that on the appropriate forum.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?

I've had my oldest, Sheldon, for 4 months (September 14th, 2017), and my newest crab, Peanut, for a little less than a month (December 23rd, 2017). I'm almost certain they're both Purple Pinchers.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

Neither have molted for me, which is a bit concerning, but they both seem to be happy and healthy. They roam around their tank both in the day and night, climb up and down, drink and eat normally (not excessively, from what I can tell), but it's still a bit bothersome.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

An acrylic tank, I'm not quite certain of the size as it was given to me by my sister, but I believe it's around 8-10 gallons. They have a second level made of wood, which isn't very big, but enough room for the two crabs and a food dish. They have a mesh/wire lid on the tank, I'm not quite certain as to what it is, but Sheldon was able to pinch through it with no problem. Silly boy.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

Two crabs. The largest, Sheldon, is around the size of a golf ball, maybe a little larger. Peanut is definitely smaller than he is, noticeably so. Peanut is around the size of a ping-pong ball.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

With their limited space. only two. I haven't been able to get any shells small enough for Peanut yet, but I have some stashed away that I'm looking for now. I think there may be some in there for him. Sheldon just changed shells on the 14th, actually, so now there's only one shell, and it's more for decoration than anything, as it really isn't crab-suitable, unfortunately. However, I'm on the lookout for shells within my price range that will fit Peanut and Sheldon's needs. Once they're in their new tank, there should be room for at least 3 for Peanut and 2 for Sheldon.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No, I don't think so. They've been kept on the bathroom counter for the last two weeks or so, because it's the warmest room in the house and we were away for a few days, but I can't recall any air freshener or other fumes/chemicals being used.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

I'll admit it probably isn't spot-cleaned enough as it should be - any fallen food is picked up as soon as it's spotted, but their waste and general debris is only cleaned out when the tank starts to look messy. I read that waste wouldn't hurt them, and if the substrate is properly maintained, it will recycle it, but now I'm second-guessing myself. It's only gone through one deep-clean, and that was 2-3 months ago. All of the substrate was removed and replaced with play sand (we were using cocofiber), the decorations and toys were cleaned, shells were rinsed, etc. It will get the same treatment when we move them to their new tank.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

Yes, but I may remove it in favour of small stones. Peanut seems large enough not to need it. It's rinsed under water every time the water is changed, and gets rinsed with hot water a few times a month. It's been cleaned with Dawn dish soap once in the past, but I'm hesitant to do that again. It was rinsed very well after the soap was used, but I'm hesitant.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

A shell and a dish that used to be in the tank, but was removed for space purposes.

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?

Both of the crabs are fairly active, and Sheldon has let me (and others) handle him from Day 1. Peanut was a little more shy, and hid in his shell whenever I needed to move him. He let me hold him for the first time a few days ago without hiding in his shell, and both are comfortable being held now. I take them out, in turns, once or twice a day every so often and let them explore for a bit, but they're kept well away from our dogs and our dog-hairy carpet.

I'm looking forward to seeing what I could do differently! You can call me Moon, Moonlight, or anything you wish, really. I'm not picky. This has been a great resource for me so far, and I'm sure it'll be even more helpful now that I'm a member!

[Moonlightdreams]

Also, I'm looking into getting them some deeper water dishes. I have some plastic containers, one of which is big enough for my larger crab to get in and move around a bit, but not too much. Would it be too small? It's wide enough to fit a tennis ball in, I think. The second water dish is much larger, both in width and depth. I'm afraid Peanut would have trouble getting in and out of these, mostly the bigger of the two. I have some plastic dollhouse furniture from my old dollhouse, and I could probably find something in there to place in the water to make it easier for him to get out, or at least get above the water. What do you think of that? For the shallower, smaller bowl, I was thinking of just lining it with some glass stones I have. I wouldn't be filling them very high, so even if he had trouble getting out, I don't think he would be submerged.

[Moonlightdreams]

Here are some pictures from the new crabitat! It's a 20gal, with Quikrete play sand as substrate, and two humidity houses with cocofiber.

The overhead view:



The larger humidity house for Sheldon:



The half log, unfortunately only big enough for Peanut:



And finally, the water bowls:



Afraid Peanut won't be able to get out of the freshwater dish. I sat him inside on the bottom Lego, and he immediately ran off into the deeper water, then tried to climb out the side. I sat him on the bottom again, and he did the same thing. Both the Lego staircase and plastic ivy are in reach, but I'm still afraid. Do you think the water is too deep for him? I wouldn't want the poor thing to drown. Looking into getting some saltwater mix the next time I go to the petstore, which will go in the smaller dish. Is it large enough? Sheldon can fit inside, but there isn't much room to move.

I'd love to hear any thoughts you have about the tank!

[aussieJJDude]

I know you mentioned that the substrate is around 5 inches, but it does look incredibly shallow for a 10g aquarium. Maybe double check to ensure that its deep enough for their moulting/digging needs?

Other than that, it looks really good. Over time, it might be worth going out and purchasing some oraments or building some levels to increase the amount if space the tank has to offer?


I would also suggest looking into using plastic plants and craft mesh so they have multiple ways of getting out. If they can get out easily, then its fine. they smarter than you would think.

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[Moonlightdreams]

We have the substrate at an incline, which I'm not incredibly happy with, but if we had any more sand in it, nobody would be able to move the tank. It's only about an inch and a half at its lowest point, but that space is mostly taken up by water bowls and decorations. It's close to 7 - 7 1/2 inches at it's highest point, so they have a good range of depth. Peanut is fairly small, only about the size of a ping-pong ball, and while Sheldon is considerably larger, the substrate is definitely at least twice his height at the highest point (and even below that).

They had a small wooden platform in the old 10gal with a food bowl, but if we were to put it in this tank, they could easily fit in between the sides of the platform and the wall, which happened once before in the old tank, and poor Peanut got stuck. My father is going to make one that will fit better, though, and we're looking into getting a few more toys and things.

As for the pools, I do have a few plastic plants other than the ones already in the tank, but they're fairly flimsy. I'll look into getting some mesh or netting, but I'm hoping it's okay the way it is.

Thank you for the feedback! ^^ It's so nice to hear from other crabbers. Very helpful!

[aussieJJDude]

You will find once you set it up, you dont really need to move it around a lot. I would encourage you to get some more substrate in there, the more room they have, the less likely you will run into moulting space problems.

I find that thr flimzy plastic plants make great ladders, plant it on the side and 'drape' the leaves in, it works rather well! Or some large rocks, like from the petstore works well as well.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Moonlightdreams]

I thought the same thing, but my mother still doesn't want to put much more in. That said, I'll try to convince her. They do have a fairly deep patch, though, so hopefully, if all else fails, that's enough for them.

I'll check into the plastic plants, thank you. My yard is full of rocks, rocks, and nothing but rocks. And moss! (Would it be appropriate moss for them? It hasn't been in contact with any chemicals or fertilizer.) I'll see how the water dishes are working for them, then go from there.

[GotButterflies]

Hello! I responded GB for GotButterflies

Hello! I'm a new member here and looking for some advice/help with my crabitat. I'm the happy owner of two Purple Pinchers (I believe), and I like to think they're happy too. I will be upgrading them to a 20gal tank within the next week or so, so the information below is what their current living situation is like. I know there are things that could be fixed, and I'm hoping to do just that after I get them settled in their new tank. I copy/pasted the emergency form, but wasn't sure where to put it, so I went with this forum. I'll expand on their food and water situation on the appropriate forum.

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

Quikrete Play Sand, about 5 inches deep, with a plastic butter tub full of cocofiber soil, about the same depth. (Maybe a little less due to the crabs flattening it down.)

GB: Substrate should be 6 inches or 3 times the height of your largest crab (whichever is deeper). This minimum should be the entire length of the tank. After the minimum is met, then you can make height differences. It should also be mixed with dechlorinated marine saltwater or dechlorinated freshwater to make the substrate sandcastle consistency.

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?

Yes, one thermometer/hygrometer, located on the back wall of the tank, about halfway up so the crabs can't climb it. The temperature is usually around 77 degrees, and the humidity ranges from 60%-80%. I've had a little trouble getting it to stay consistent around 75% without saturating the tank too much.

GB: It would be better if you could get your heat up to at least 80. You can try to insulate around your heat pad with aluminum foil (shiny part facing the crabitat), then cardboard. You can do multiple layers of this. Don't insulate over your heating pad if it is a zoomed. If doing the insulation doesn't raise your temperature, you might want to consider getting a better heater. Most of us use ultratherms. They are great heaters. www.reptilebasics.com or www.beanfarm.com sells them. It is imperative for you to get your humidity up to at least 80. Hermit crabs have modified gills, and need the humidity to breathe. Anything over 80 is fine, you cannot have your humidity too high. High humidity can cause mold growth. Mold will not hurt the hermits, but can cause harm to you. You can put press-n-seal on your lid to help with keeping humidity in.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

As of right now, the only heat source is their light, which is on for about 12 hours a day. The outer walls of the tank are wrapped in foil, to help keep the heat in at night, and the lid is covered up to keep the heat in. (With an air hole, of course! Wouldn't want to suffocate them.) We do have a heater to stick on the side, but the tank is acrylic. The heater will be in use as soon as we move them to the glass 20gal.

GB: Lights can cause the humidity to evaporate faster. You can add bubblers to their water bowls to help increase humidity. You will not suffocate them - taking the top off once a day is sufficient air exchange.

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?

Only freshwater, at this point. We were told that saltwater was not necessary and it was only through reading the HCA's posts that I came to realise saltwater is needed. There isn't much room for a dish in their tank now, and I don't have the supplies, but once they're in their new tank, I'll get some Instant Ocean, or another mix. We have a well, and the water isn't chlorinated, so no treatment is used.

GB: How is the water not chlorinated? What type of water is used? All water needs to have a dechlorinator - even if you use bottled water - Use one that removes chlorine, chloramine and one that also neutralized heavy metals and ammonia. A lot of us use Prime.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

FMR crab pellets, unfortunately. I'm looking into getting another commercial brand that has no preservatives or chemicals the next time I have the chance, and they eat more fresh food than the FMR pellets. They seem to really like honey, and they usually get it 1-2 times a week. I offered them shrimp and coconut oil last night, but neither seemed interested. My largest crab hasn't eaten any of the shrimp I've given him, as far as I'm aware, and my new crab didn't seem to care. Honey seems to be the crowd favourite, but I've seen Sheldon, my oldest and largest crab, nibble on grapes and blueberries. He didn't seem interested in the carrot, apple, or banana I offered. I'm looking into making them a blend of food made from birdseed. dried fruit and leaf litter, but more on that on the appropriate forum.

GB: Make sure you cover all aspects of food pyramid Foods should be organic when possible. Hermit crabs are sensitive to pesticides and fertilizers.
Safe food list: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92557
Unsafe food list: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92556
Food pyramid: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92554

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?

I've had my oldest, Sheldon, for 4 months (September 14th, 2017), and my newest crab, Peanut, for a little less than a month (December 23rd, 2017). I'm almost certain they're both Purple Pinchers.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

Neither have molted for me, which is a bit concerning, but they both seem to be happy and healthy. They roam around their tank both in the day and night, climb up and down, drink and eat normally (not excessively, from what I can tell), but it's still a bit bothersome.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

An acrylic tank, I'm not quite certain of the size as it was given to me by my sister, but I believe it's around 8-10 gallons. They have a second level made of wood, which isn't very big, but enough room for the two crabs and a food dish. They have a mesh/wire lid on the tank, I'm not quite certain as to what it is, but Sheldon was able to pinch through it with no problem. Silly boy.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

Two crabs. The largest, Sheldon, is around the size of a golf ball, maybe a little larger. Peanut is definitely smaller than he is, noticeably so. Peanut is around the size of a ping-pong ball.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

With their limited space. only two. I haven't been able to get any shells small enough for Peanut yet, but I have some stashed away that I'm looking for now. I think there may be some in there for him. Sheldon just changed shells on the 14th, actually, so now there's only one shell, and it's more for decoration than anything, as it really isn't crab-suitable, unfortunately. However, I'm on the lookout for shells within my price range that will fit Peanut and Sheldon's needs. Once they're in their new tank, there should be room for at least 3 for Peanut and 2 for Sheldon.

GB: The HCA recommends 3-5 shells per hermit crab. I personally recommend more. It never hurts to have more There are incorrect shells to buy. Here is the shell guide: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=92552

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No, I don't think so. They've been kept on the bathroom counter for the last two weeks or so, because it's the warmest room in the house and we were away for a few days, but I can't recall any air freshener or other fumes/chemicals being used.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

I'll admit it probably isn't spot-cleaned enough as it should be - any fallen food is picked up as soon as it's spotted, but their waste and general debris is only cleaned out when the tank starts to look messy. I read that waste wouldn't hurt them, and if the substrate is properly maintained, it will recycle it, but now I'm second-guessing myself. It's only gone through one deep-clean, and that was 2-3 months ago. All of the substrate was removed and replaced with play sand (we were using cocofiber), the decorations and toys were cleaned, shells were rinsed, etc. It will get the same treatment when we move them to their new tank.

GB: You only need to remove food, poop and change water. Once a year some people churn sand, but unless you have a bacterial bloom, sand does not need to be replaced.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

Yes, but I may remove it in favour of small stones. Peanut seems large enough not to need it. It's rinsed under water every time the water is changed, and gets rinsed with hot water a few times a month. It's been cleaned with Dawn dish soap once in the past, but I'm hesitant to do that again. It was rinsed very well after the soap was used, but I'm hesitant.

GB: Sponges are not necessary.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

A shell and a dish that used to be in the tank, but was removed for space purposes.

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?

Both of the crabs are fairly active, and Sheldon has let me (and others) handle him from Day 1. Peanut was a little more shy, and hid in his shell whenever I needed to move him. He let me hold him for the first time a few days ago without hiding in his shell, and both are comfortable being held now. I take them out, in turns, once or twice a day every so often and let them explore for a bit, but they're kept well away from our dogs and our dog-hairy carpet.

I'm looking forward to seeing what I could do differently! You can call me Moon, Moonlight, or anything you wish, really. I'm not picky. This has been a great resource for me so far, and I'm sure it'll be even more helpful now that I'm a member!

[GotButterflies]

Also, I'm looking into getting them some deeper water dishes. I have some plastic containers, one of which is big enough for my larger crab to get in and move around a bit, but not too much. Would it be too small? It's wide enough to fit a tennis ball in, I think. The second water dish is much larger, both in width and depth. I'm afraid Peanut would have trouble getting in and out of these, mostly the bigger of the two. I have some plastic dollhouse furniture from my old dollhouse, and I could probably find something in there to place in the water to make it easier for him to get out, or at least get above the water. What do you think of that? For the shallower, smaller bowl, I was thinking of just lining it with some glass stones I have. I wouldn't be filling them very high, so even if he had trouble getting out, I don't think he would be submerged.

A lot of us use tupperware containers as our pools. We double them up for easy removal to clean. Then we use craft mesh and zip tie it to the lip of the tupperware containers. The craft mesh is easy for the crabs to grab onto for entry and exit to the pools.

This shows a picture of it: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=113691&p=1030806&h ... r#p1030806

[Moonlightdreams]

Hello! I responded GB for GotButterflies

Hello! I'm a new member here and looking for some advice/help with my crabitat. I'm the happy owner of two Purple Pinchers (I believe), and I like to think they're happy too. I will be upgrading them to a 20gal tank within the next week or so, so the information below is what their current living situation is like. I know there are things that could be fixed, and I'm hoping to do just that after I get them settled in their new tank. I copy/pasted the emergency form, but wasn't sure where to put it, so I went with this forum. I'll expand on their food and water situation on the appropriate forum.

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

Quikrete Play Sand, about 5 inches deep, with a plastic butter tub full of cocofiber soil, about the same depth. (Maybe a little less due to the crabs flattening it down.)

GB: Substrate should be 6 inches or 3 times the height of your largest crab (whichever is deeper). This minimum should be the entire length of the tank. After the minimum is met, then you can make height differences. It should also be mixed with dechlorinated marine saltwater or dechlorinated freshwater to make the substrate sandcastle consistency.

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?

Yes, one thermometer/hygrometer, located on the back wall of the tank, about halfway up so the crabs can't climb it. The temperature is usually around 77 degrees, and the humidity ranges from 60%-80%. I've had a little trouble getting it to stay consistent around 75% without saturating the tank too much.

GB: It would be better if you could get your heat up to at least 80. You can try to insulate around your heat pad with aluminum foil (shiny part facing the crabitat), then cardboard. You can do multiple layers of this. Don't insulate over your heating pad if it is a zoomed. If doing the insulation doesn't raise your temperature, you might want to consider getting a better heater. Most of us use ultratherms. They are great heaters. http://www.reptilebasics.com or http://www.beanfarm.com sells them. It is imperative for you to get your humidity up to at least 80. Hermit crabs have modified gills, and need the humidity to breathe. Anything over 80 is fine, you cannot have your humidity too high. High humidity can cause mold growth. Mold will not hurt the hermits, but can cause harm to you. You can put press-n-seal on your lid to help with keeping humidity in.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

As of right now, the only heat source is their light, which is on for about 12 hours a day. The outer walls of the tank are wrapped in foil, to help keep the heat in at night, and the lid is covered up to keep the heat in. (With an air hole, of course! Wouldn't want to suffocate them.) We do have a heater to stick on the side, but the tank is acrylic. The heater will be in use as soon as we move them to the glass 20gal.

GB: Lights can cause the humidity to evaporate faster. You can add bubblers to their water bowls to help increase humidity. You will not suffocate them - taking the top off once a day is sufficient air exchange.

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?

Only freshwater, at this point. We were told that saltwater was not necessary and it was only through reading the HCA's posts that I came to realise saltwater is needed. There isn't much room for a dish in their tank now, and I don't have the supplies, but once they're in their new tank, I'll get some Instant Ocean, or another mix. We have a well, and the water isn't chlorinated, so no treatment is used.

GB: How is the water not chlorinated? What type of water is used? All water needs to have a dechlorinator - even if you use bottled water - Use one that removes chlorine, chloramine and one that also neutralized heavy metals and ammonia. A lot of us use Prime.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

FMR crab pellets, unfortunately. I'm looking into getting another commercial brand that has no preservatives or chemicals the next time I have the chance, and they eat more fresh food than the FMR pellets. They seem to really like honey, and they usually get it 1-2 times a week. I offered them shrimp and coconut oil last night, but neither seemed interested. My largest crab hasn't eaten any of the shrimp I've given him, as far as I'm aware, and my new crab didn't seem to care. Honey seems to be the crowd favourite, but I've seen Sheldon, my oldest and largest crab, nibble on grapes and blueberries. He didn't seem interested in the carrot, apple, or banana I offered. I'm looking into making them a blend of food made from birdseed. dried fruit and leaf litter, but more on that on the appropriate forum.

GB: Make sure you cover all aspects of food pyramid Foods should be organic when possible. Hermit crabs are sensitive to pesticides and fertilizers.
Safe food list: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92557
Unsafe food list: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92556
Food pyramid: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92554

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?

I've had my oldest, Sheldon, for 4 months (September 14th, 2017), and my newest crab, Peanut, for a little less than a month (December 23rd, 2017). I'm almost certain they're both Purple Pinchers.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

Neither have molted for me, which is a bit concerning, but they both seem to be happy and healthy. They roam around their tank both in the day and night, climb up and down, drink and eat normally (not excessively, from what I can tell), but it's still a bit bothersome.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

An acrylic tank, I'm not quite certain of the size as it was given to me by my sister, but I believe it's around 8-10 gallons. They have a second level made of wood, which isn't very big, but enough room for the two crabs and a food dish. They have a mesh/wire lid on the tank, I'm not quite certain as to what it is, but Sheldon was able to pinch through it with no problem. Silly boy.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

Two crabs. The largest, Sheldon, is around the size of a golf ball, maybe a little larger. Peanut is definitely smaller than he is, noticeably so. Peanut is around the size of a ping-pong ball.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

With their limited space. only two. I haven't been able to get any shells small enough for Peanut yet, but I have some stashed away that I'm looking for now. I think there may be some in there for him. Sheldon just changed shells on the 14th, actually, so now there's only one shell, and it's more for decoration than anything, as it really isn't crab-suitable, unfortunately. However, I'm on the lookout for shells within my price range that will fit Peanut and Sheldon's needs. Once they're in their new tank, there should be room for at least 3 for Peanut and 2 for Sheldon.

GB: The HCA recommends 3-5 shells per hermit crab. I personally recommend more. It never hurts to have more There are incorrect shells to buy. Here is the shell guide: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=92552

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No, I don't think so. They've been kept on the bathroom counter for the last two weeks or so, because it's the warmest room in the house and we were away for a few days, but I can't recall any air freshener or other fumes/chemicals being used.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

I'll admit it probably isn't spot-cleaned enough as it should be - any fallen food is picked up as soon as it's spotted, but their waste and general debris is only cleaned out when the tank starts to look messy. I read that waste wouldn't hurt them, and if the substrate is properly maintained, it will recycle it, but now I'm second-guessing myself. It's only gone through one deep-clean, and that was 2-3 months ago. All of the substrate was removed and replaced with play sand (we were using cocofiber), the decorations and toys were cleaned, shells were rinsed, etc. It will get the same treatment when we move them to their new tank.

GB: You only need to remove food, poop and change water. Once a year some people churn sand, but unless you have a bacterial bloom, sand does not need to be replaced.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

Yes, but I may remove it in favour of small stones. Peanut seems large enough not to need it. It's rinsed under water every time the water is changed, and gets rinsed with hot water a few times a month. It's been cleaned with Dawn dish soap once in the past, but I'm hesitant to do that again. It was rinsed very well after the soap was used, but I'm hesitant.

GB: Sponges are not necessary.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

A shell and a dish that used to be in the tank, but was removed for space purposes.

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?

Both of the crabs are fairly active, and Sheldon has let me (and others) handle him from Day 1. Peanut was a little more shy, and hid in his shell whenever I needed to move him. He let me hold him for the first time a few days ago without hiding in his shell, and both are comfortable being held now. I take them out, in turns, once or twice a day every so often and let them explore for a bit, but they're kept well away from our dogs and our dog-hairy carpet.

I'm looking forward to seeing what I could do differently! You can call me Moon, Moonlight, or anything you wish, really. I'm not picky. This has been a great resource for me so far, and I'm sure it'll be even more helpful now that I'm a member!

1. Taking care of that tomorrow! Sand is pretty wet right now, I stuck a pen down in several spots and the sand is sandcastle consistency at least halfway down.

2. Heat is around 77-78 in the warm side and 75 in the cool side, humidity is around 75%. I spray the tank whenever the humidity drops below 70% - they also have their humidity houses. We have plastic wrap on the lid and we're looking to insulate the sides a little.

4. It's well water, and isn't chlorinated. I'm not certain of the process, but it isn't chlorinated.

5. Trying my best to feed a variety of food, but the produce we buy is either canned or frozen, and the fresh produce isn't organic. (Neither is the frozen, from what I can tell.)

10. I've been trying to find shells in bulk, but I'm not having any luck with finding an assorted variety. I'd rather buy a mix of small/medium/large than 30 shells in each size. I don't know which size my crabs will prefer, so if anyone finds a bulk package in varied sizes, I'd be grateful for a link!

12. Fresh food is placed at night, usually between 8-10 PM, and removed between 9-11 AM. Commercial food is replaced every 2-3 days, and water is replaced every 1-2 days.

13. A sponge is no longer in use, the bottoms of the pools are now lined with pebbles and glass stones, but Peanut has some trouble getting in and out, so my mother is trying to make something for him to climb out with.

Thank you for all of your help! Right now, I'm looking at getting them some saltwater mix and cuttlebone, as well as fixing the substrate issue. I'm also looking at some heat lights for nighttime, does anyone know of any good ones? We were also thinking of adding a third crab to our gang, would 3 crabs in a 20gal be too many? Sheldon is around the size of a golf ball, maybe a bit larger with that giant shell of his, and Peanut is about the size of a ping-pong ball. (Probably not the right forum to ask on, but I wasn't sure.)

[GotButterflies]

I replied GB for GotButterflies

1. Taking care of that tomorrow! Sand is pretty wet right now, I stuck a pen down in several spots and the sand is sandcastle consistency at least halfway down.

GB: Do you have a chopstick to use? That would be better - (non toxic)

2. Heat is around 77-78 in the warm side and 75 in the cool side, humidity is around 75%. I spray the tank whenever the humidity drops below 70% - they also have their humidity houses. We have plastic wrap on the lid and we're looking to insulate the sides a little.

GB: You want to be careful with spraying - it can lead to flooding

4. It's well water, and isn't chlorinated. I'm not certain of the process, but it isn't chlorinated.

GB: Okay - well water gets taken from the earth...the earth has it's own method of filtering - and although it may not have any chlorine - it is still possible to have harmful metals present. You still should use Prime. Better to be safe than sorry.

5. Trying my best to feed a variety of food, but the produce we buy is either canned or frozen, and the fresh produce isn't organic. (Neither is the frozen, from what I can tell.)

GB: Hey - you are doing the best that you can! Don't beat yourself up! That is fine! A lot of people feed baby food. Baby food comes in organic. If doing this - you can split the baby food up into an ice cube tray and freeze it for easy feedings in the future.

10. I've been trying to find shells in bulk, but I'm not having any luck with finding an assorted variety. I'd rather buy a mix of small/medium/large than 30 shells in each size. I don't know which size my crabs will prefer, so if anyone finds a bulk package in varied sizes, I'd be grateful for a link!

GB: Do you have a Michaels, JoAnne's Fabrics or Hobby Lobby store? They sell bulk shells in the craft section

12. Fresh food is placed at night, usually between 8-10 PM, and removed between 9-11 AM. Commercial food is replaced every 2-3 days, and water is replaced every 1-2 days.

GB: A lot of commercial foods are not safe. Please check to make sure yours doesn't have the ingredients listed as not safe.

13. A sponge is no longer in use, the bottoms of the pools are now lined with pebbles and glass stones, but Peanut has some trouble getting in and out, so my mother is trying to make something for him to climb out with.

GB: Once again, I cannot recommend craft mesh enough! It is cheap (like 60 cents for one sheet - and you can do both of your pools with one sheet!)

Thank you for all of your help! Right now, I'm looking at getting them some saltwater mix and cuttlebone, as well as fixing the substrate issue. I'm also looking at some heat lights for nighttime, does anyone know of any good ones? We were also thinking of adding a third crab to our gang, would 3 crabs in a 20gal be too many? Sheldon is around the size of a golf ball, maybe a bit larger with that giant shell of his, and Peanut is about the size of a ping-pong ball. (Probably not the right forum to ask on, but I wasn't sure.)

GB: I personally recommend 1 crab per 5 gallons for small to medium crabs, so I think you would be fine [/quote]

[Moonlightdreams]

I replied GB for GotButterflies

1. Taking care of that tomorrow! Sand is pretty wet right now, I stuck a pen down in several spots and the sand is sandcastle consistency at least halfway down.

GB: Do you have a chopstick to use? That would be better - (non toxic)

2. Heat is around 77-78 in the warm side and 75 in the cool side, humidity is around 75%. I spray the tank whenever the humidity drops below 70% - they also have their humidity houses. We have plastic wrap on the lid and we're looking to insulate the sides a little.

GB: You want to be careful with spraying - it can lead to flooding

4. It's well water, and isn't chlorinated. I'm not certain of the process, but it isn't chlorinated.

GB: Okay - well water gets taken from the earth...the earth has it's own method of filtering - and although it may not have any chlorine - it is still possible to have harmful metals present. You still should use Prime. Better to be safe than sorry.

5. Trying my best to feed a variety of food, but the produce we buy is either canned or frozen, and the fresh produce isn't organic. (Neither is the frozen, from what I can tell.)

GB: Hey - you are doing the best that you can! Don't beat yourself up! That is fine! A lot of people feed baby food. Baby food comes in organic. If doing this - you can split the baby food up into an ice cube tray and freeze it for easy feedings in the future.

10. I've been trying to find shells in bulk, but I'm not having any luck with finding an assorted variety. I'd rather buy a mix of small/medium/large than 30 shells in each size. I don't know which size my crabs will prefer, so if anyone finds a bulk package in varied sizes, I'd be grateful for a link!

GB: Do you have a Michaels, JoAnne's Fabrics or Hobby Lobby store? They sell bulk shells in the craft section

12. Fresh food is placed at night, usually between 8-10 PM, and removed between 9-11 AM. Commercial food is replaced every 2-3 days, and water is replaced every 1-2 days.

GB: A lot of commercial foods are not safe. Please check to make sure yours doesn't have the ingredients listed as not safe.

13. A sponge is no longer in use, the bottoms of the pools are now lined with pebbles and glass stones, but Peanut has some trouble getting in and out, so my mother is trying to make something for him to climb out with.

GB: Once again, I cannot recommend craft mesh enough! It is cheap (like 60 cents for one sheet - and you can do both of your pools with one sheet!)

Thank you for all of your help! Right now, I'm looking at getting them some saltwater mix and cuttlebone, as well as fixing the substrate issue. I'm also looking at some heat lights for nighttime, does anyone know of any good ones? We were also thinking of adding a third crab to our gang, would 3 crabs in a 20gal be too many? Sheldon is around the size of a golf ball, maybe a bit larger with that giant shell of his, and Peanut is about the size of a ping-pong ball. (Probably not the right forum to ask on, but I wasn't sure.)

GB: I personally recommend 1 crab per 5 gallons for small to medium crabs, so I think you would be fine

[/quote]


No chopsticks, but I left the cap on the pen - it was out of ink anyway, and I used the bottom end. I tend to spray the plants more than the substrate, but I spray the sand when it starts to dry out. I'll look into the water conditioner when I'm at the pet store - hopefully it isn't too expensive.

I'll have to look into baby food! I could save myself the money and make it myself, but again, the vegetables aren't organic. We live in a small town with no pet stores and no craft stores, unfortunately, so I only get the chance to go by one 1-2 times a month when we go to the city. I bought a bag of shells from a craft store a while ago, but, unfortunately, almost all of the shells were broken or not suitable for the crabs. I'm feeding them more human food than commercial food, and I'm replacing their pellets with a mixture of birdseed, dried fruit, etc. I may still buy a bottle of premade food for convenience, but I will definitely make sure it's safe.

I'll look into the craft mesh as well, but I think we've worked something out! Thank you for all of your help! Good to know three isn't a crowd!

[soilentgringa]

If you have a Walmart you can go to the pet section and get dried shrimp and crickets.

I would highly recommend doing so.

You can also find local raw honey, bee pollen and other nutritious foods that they need.

Personally I wouldn't worry about birdseed.

Freeze dried fruit with no sugar added is fine.

A good dry mix would be shrimp/crickets/mealworms, crushed eggshells (or a cuttlebone in the tank), freeze dried fruit, walnuts/almonds, coconut shavings with no added sugar, and bee pollen.

Frozen veg is fine as long as it is on the safe list. Bits of raw unseasoned proteins (chicken, beef, fish, shellfish), and safe fresh fruits are fine as well.



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