HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I rearranged today and think I’m finally done with my crabitat. Id really like any suggestions or critiques anyone has to offer!

*My substrate is 6”-7” (a little higher on one side. Whoops!” I know I’ll have to add more when my crabs get bigger but they’re all pretty small right now and the substrate is definitely 3 times my biggest crab





The humidity is low due to having the lid off to rearrange. The humidity is normally 80-85%.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

looks awesome!! congrats!!

I really like your set up

Sent from my LGL157BL using Tapatalk

Thank you both!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looking really good so far! Sure they are liking it.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Looking good so far. We have a similar gauge in the same location above a coconut hide. We used a small command hook to hang it on the glass so the crabs don't knock it into the sand. We had to modify the hook and make it smaller so the gauge would hang properly.

My wife recently purchased some of those same multi compartment food dishes. She loves them because it's easy to tell what their favorites foods are when there is an empty area. It's like a crabbie buffet with them!

For your water do you have the containers inside another container of the same size? We recently did that and it makes it a lot easier changing the water. Plus you will not disturb any crabs that may be molting under them.

You have a lot of unused vertical space you could easily add a mosh, I mean moss pit too with a corner shower caddy, and attach more of that fish net so they can climb up to it.

I would HIGHLY recommend and mouse wheel for the crabs. They all seem to go crazy for them!

I for the life of me can not get the gauge to hang anywhere in the tank. I’ve tried just about everything so I figured for right now sitting on top of the coco hut would work! No ones knocked it over yet.

I absolutely love those food dishes. They’re so cute and definitely help figuring out what the crabs like and don’t like!

I didn’t double up my water dishes and I instantly regretted it because within a few days I could see a cave/hole underneath my salt water dish, so I think one of my crabs is definitely hanging out under there. Once I’m positive there’s no crabs hanging out under my dishes I’m going to try to go the store and find dishes the same size so I can double up!

I’ve been trying to find some of those shower caddies to make a shell shop for my bigger shells, but I’ve been to like every store in town and haven’t been able to find one. I have my small shells in a small soap dish and that’s working, but if I did that for big shells I’d only be able to fit two maybe three on there

I’m for sure trying to find something to do with all the vertical space because they definitely like climbing all the netting I have in the back. I don’t want to have to move anything on the ground because 4/6 of my crabs are underground and I don’t want to disturb anyone. Just looking for some inspiration!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The first time I stuck the gauge on the wall it fell off. I used a damp paper towel with some apple cider vinegar to clean where i'm going to stick it. Then I wiped it down with some water, then dried it. Then press the hook firmly on. Ours has been up for about 2 weeks now.

We usually find shower caddies at Wal Mart where they sell the towel racks, mirrors, and stuff like that. Near the plumbing section at ours. Sometimes they sell out and it takes a week or two for them to receive another shipment.

If you browse through the picture and DIY sections you will get lots of cool ideas to fill us space in your crabitat. Everyone on here is really creative and come up with awesome ideas you would never think of.

Love it! Question, where did you get the food dish and the gauge (and what brand?)

fandt94 wrote:Love it! Question, where did you get the food dish and the gauge (and what brand?)

The food dish came from earthwaterfirestudio on Etsy! She makes very cute pet friendly food dishes.

The gauge is an AcuRite brand. I got it off Amazon for $7.99 or so.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you!

ha_haley wrote:

fandt94 wrote:Love it! Question, where did you get the food dish and the gauge (and what brand?)

The food dish came from earthwaterfirestudio on Etsy! She makes very cute pet friendly food dishes.

The gauge is an AcuRite brand. I got it off Amazon for $7.99 or so.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Looks great! The only things I would recommend is the following:

Make your substrate at least 6" or three times the height of your largest crab (whichever is deeper wins), throughout the tank. After that minimum depth is met, then you can make differences in your substrate. Also - just want to make sure you mixed with dechlorinated fw or dechlorinated msw to make it sandcastle consistency.

Crabs love to dig, and they love to climb - which leads to my second recommendation: do you have any pesticide & fertilizer free trees that are on the safe food list in your yard? You would also need to make sure they do not spray for mosquitoes in your area. For example: Oak, Maple, Sweetgum. If so, give them some branches You can also purchase Cholla. Make sure that it is also pesticide, fertilizer and cleaned without chemicals. They are also called tree crabs.

You could use command strips to drape your fish net across the tank too I personally use the velcro kind.

Edit: Mlakers is a member on here - she makes those feeding dishes. She has a store on Etsy. EarthWaterFireStudio is what I think it is called. If you go to my link, and then go to my profile, hers is one of my favorite stores.