HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So I am new to the hermit crab life. I was a sucker on vacation and let my daughter get a PP then found out they really aren't hermits. So we got a couple of friends. I was trusting that everything there was all we needed. Upon further research, I learned just how wrong I was, and looking to correct that. I have been reading this site for nearly 3 straight days, and purchasing, and setting up a new home for them the last week (on info from other conflicting sites). I filled the tank with EE before I found this site, but will work in sand as we go. I currently have a 10Gal Zilla UTH, but have a 6x17 Ultratherm coming now, so eventually the heating should be correct/better. The main few questions I have for now:

1. Until the heater arrives, part of me feels like, I should transfer them now... because this HAS to be better than what they currently have. I am not sure the substrate is quite heated all the way through though. I actually have a small UTH in one corner (pre HCA knowledge purchase). I also have an old desk lamp shining on it which is transferring some heat, and also moved a portable heater to the area... So at this point, I am sure I don't have stable temps, but the crabs are in the plastic tank, on gravel, in a room that's probably 70*F. Humidity is great at this time in the new tank, have no clue what it's like in the plastic trash. Are they better off where they are now, or should I move them and keep working on the tank as things arrive?

2. Best placement for the tank thermometer/hygrometer? When the Ultratherm comes, I assume where it is won't work (in middle back of tank) because it will be right on/above the top of the UTH. Also, should it be at the top of tank or closer to the substrate, etc? I have been looking at everyone's tank setups and I just can't seem to decipher where you have it all placed. Our 10 Gal tank is 20Lx10Wx12H, ultratherm is 6x17, substrate currently at 5 inches, can add more EE to line up with the UTH once it's in place.

3. Would we be better to pull out the EE we have in the tank, mix in sand 5:1 and somehow dry out the EE that isn't used now? Or will this be fine until we do a substrate change? I hate to just throw out the EE we already have hydrated.

Thanks for any info or advice you can give me to get us pointed in the right direction. We're working on correcting our ignorance of such cool critters!

Congratulations! You've done great research so far, and I wish you the best

You can move them once the tank gets up to the correct temperature. I am sure that you have Carribean (Purple Pincher) crabs, which don't need as high as other species do. They are fine around 72 - 89, but you should keep it around 76 - 80 at all times.
Humidity needs to remain at or above 80, or else the crabs cannot breathe properly.

The hygrometer should be as low as possible to get a correct reading on the temperature from where the crabs are at.

Just a reminder, the UTH always must be on the back, never underneath. Placing the heater underneath poses as a fire hazard, and doesn't heat very well with the amount of substrate that you need.
I personally recommend placing it above the substrate, but it will be fine if the substrate is slightly higher than it. The substrate should always be three times as deep of the size of your largest crab.

You don't have to throw out any EE, you can mix sand directly into the tank if you like, or leave it to one substrate.
Many crabbers like the 5:1 ratio of either sand to EE, or EE to sand.

I hope this helps!

Very helpful, thanks!
UTH is on the back, but way too small. Anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Ultratherm and the rest of our needs, and feel urgency to get them where they should be. I'll try to be patient. I have even considered placing their cheap tank inside this one for humidity purposes. I feel just awful!

These 3 are just around an inch tall - the free ones were quarter sized after all , so we bought friends the same size. We full well expect them to live a long happy life and get upgraded to larger tanks as we go!

I also just read to scrape of the top EE every so often to clean it, so I may mix the sand in at that point to refill.

OK, off to move the hygrometer down!

mellynpar wrote:Very helpful, thanks!
UTH is on the back, but way too small. Anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Ultratherm and the rest of our needs, and feel urgency to get them where they should be. I'll try to be patient. I have even considered placing their cheap tank inside this one for humidity purposes. I feel just awful!

These 3 are just around an inch tall - the free ones were quarter sized after all , so we bought friends the same size. We full well expect them to live a long happy life and get upgraded to larger tanks as we go!

I also just read to scrape of the top EE every so often to clean it, so I may mix the sand in at that point to refill.

OK, off to move the hygrometer down!

The Ultratherm should fit just right on a ten gallon, and heat well!
You can do whatever you feel like doing until the new tank is ready, it's not my tank, it's yours

Yes, you'll only need to remove a small bit, not even an inch.
If you pick out poop and messes daily, it won't become a bigger problem.

mellynpar wrote:So I am new to the hermit crab life. I was a sucker on vacation and let my daughter get a PP then found out they really aren't hermits. So we got a couple of friends. I was trusting that everything there was all we needed. Upon further research, I learned just how wrong I was, and looking to correct that. I have been reading this site for nearly 3 straight days, and purchasing, and setting up a new home for them the last week (on info from other conflicting sites). I filled the tank with EE before I found this site, but will work in sand as we go. I currently have a 10Gal Zilla UTH, but have a 6x17 Ultratherm coming now, so eventually the heating should be correct/better. The main few questions I have for now:

1. Until the heater arrives, part of me feels like, I should transfer them now... because this HAS to be better than what they currently have. I am not sure the substrate is quite heated all the way through though. I actually have a small UTH in one corner (pre HCA knowledge purchase). I also have an old desk lamp shining on it which is transferring some heat, and also moved a portable heater to the area... So at this point, I am sure I don't have stable temps, but the crabs are in the plastic tank, on gravel, in a room that's probably 70*F. Humidity is great at this time in the new tank, have no clue what it's like in the plastic trash. Are they better off where they are now, or should I move them and keep working on the tank as things arrive?

2. Best placement for the tank thermometer/hygrometer? When the Ultratherm comes, I assume where it is won't work (in middle back of tank) because it will be right on/above the top of the UTH. Also, should it be at the top of tank or closer to the substrate, etc? I have been looking at everyone's tank setups and I just can't seem to decipher where you have it all placed. Our 10 Gal tank is 20Lx10Wx12H, ultratherm is 6x17, substrate currently at 5 inches, can add more EE to line up with the UTH once it's in place.

3. Would we be better to pull out the EE we have in the tank, mix in sand 5:1 and somehow dry out the EE that isn't used now? Or will this be fine until we do a substrate change? I hate to just throw out the EE we already have hydrated.

Thanks for any info or advice you can give me to get us pointed in the right direction. We're working on correcting our ignorance of such cool critters!

My daughter (18yrs old) went on a trip to Florida and came back with 2 crabs. That was last June. By Sept I was taking care of them and also started researching. I'm surprised they survived in those conditions. I set up a 10 gal, then moved them to a 15 gal, which I thought was a 20. Then moved them, oh yeah, in the meantime we got 2 more, to a 40breeder. Lol. Because you fall in love with them. Now I have 6 total and they are in a 90 gallon.
Even though they will survive for awhile in their current conditions, in my, still new, opinion, I would transfer them. Add at least another inch of either ee or sand first, making sure it's sandcastle consistancy. They will probably dig down right away. I'm sure you've read about their feeding and water.

I actually did move them! With the portable heater the way I set it up actually brought up the temp and it stayed at 80 for most of the night, 77 at the coldest part of our typical house temp this morning. Humidity was a bit up and down at first because of taking the lid off and getting them moved in, it started around 90, vented the plastic wrap, before bed hovering just below 80. This morning it has dropped down to about 70, so we'll mist and see what happens, closed up the vented plastic a bit. The crabbies seem quite pleased. Our rambunctious one, Lewis the explorer has traveled every inch and claimed a hide. Sandy decided to celebrate by grabbing a new shell. Our shy little Morgan even adventured around a little bit and found her sleeping on top of a broken shell we use as a hide, usually she's under things. My daughter checked them first thing when she got up, Lewis and Sandy were munching on some shrimp we left them last night. Baskets for our moss pit and shells, choya wood, and overhead LED light arrive today a day early, so we can add that stuff in. I spent so much time sitting in front of their tank last night when I should have been sleeping.

mellynpar wrote:I actually did move them! With the portable heater the way I set it up actually brought up the temp and it stayed at 80 for most of the night, 77 at the coldest part of our typical house temp this morning. Humidity was a bit up and down at first because of taking the lid off and getting them moved in, it started around 90, vented the plastic wrap, before bed hovering just below 80. This morning it has dropped down to about 70, so we'll mist and see what happens, closed up the vented plastic a bit. The crabbies seem quite pleased. Our rambunctious one, Lewis the explorer has traveled every inch and claimed a hide. Sandy decided to celebrate by grabbing a new shell. Our shy little Morgan even adventured around a little bit and found her sleeping on top of a broken shell we use as a hide, usually she's under things. My daughter checked them first thing when she got up, Lewis and Sandy were munching on some shrimp we left them last night. Baskets for our moss pit and shells, choya wood, and overhead LED light arrive today a day early, so we can add that stuff in. I spent so much time sitting in front of their tank last night when I should have been sleeping.

Yay! It sounds like it's going well