New Crabitat Questions

[Mittmom]

I am setting up a crabitat for my kids. Thanks to this site and others I have been taking my time collecting the items I need to make the crabitat right before adding crabs. I was able to get a free 15 gallon glass terrarium. My questions have to do with light and heat. I bought a Zilla Incandescent Dual Bulb Fixture with 60w day and night bulbs. When I opened it I saw the warnings about letting it get too close to combustible materials. The top of the terrarium I got is divided in half. One side is a glass panel and the other wire mesh. There is a particle board edging that goes all around both panels. I am wondering if the lights will get too hot to have sitting directly above the particle board edge that divides the top of the terrarium. Also, I put clear packaging tape on the underside of the wire mesh. Will the lights melt that? And finally, the terrarium came with an undertank heater attached, which I thought was an additional score, but then realized it is labeled for desert conditions. Is there really a difference between desert and tropical when it comes to an undertank heater?? I was hoping to not have to use it since I purchased the lighting fixture, but if the fixture gets too hot for the particle board, maybe the undertank heater would be a better option and just have a non-heating light for viewing??
Thank you for taking time to read this and hopefully someone will can help!

[Hermiesguardian]

I am setting up a crabitat for my kids. Thanks to this site and others I have been taking my time collecting the items I need to make the crabitat right before adding crabs. I was able to get a free 15 gallon glass terrarium. My questions have to do with light and heat. I bought a Zilla Incandescent Dual Bulb Fixture with 60w day and night bulbs. When I opened it I saw the warnings about letting it get too close to combustible materials. The top of the terrarium I got is divided in half. One side is a glass panel and the other wire mesh. There is a particle board edging that goes all around both panels. I am wondering if the lights will get too hot to have sitting directly above the particle board edge that divides the top of the terrarium. Also, I put clear packaging tape on the underside of the wire mesh. Will the lights melt that? And finally, the terrarium came with an undertank heater attached, which I thought was an additional score, but then realized it is labeled for desert conditions. Is there really a difference between desert and tropical when it comes to an undertank heater?? I was hoping to not have to use it since I purchased the lighting fixture, but if the fixture gets too hot for the particle board, maybe the undertank heater would be a better option and just have a non-heating light for viewing??
Thank you for taking time to read this and hopefully someone will can help!

The heat from the bulbs can crack the glass. I can't picture what you have but if the particle board us also on the inside of the tank at all it will be destroyed eventually with the humidity. Bulbs will dry out the humidity. The uth needs to be placed on the outside of the back of the tank. Not under it. If it's the stick on it can't be reused once removed. Look into getting an Ultratherm from reptilebasics.com or beanfarm.com. It should be large enough to cover the back of the tank from the top of the substrate to the top of tank. I would also seal the mesh lid on the outside of the lid. The crabs will climb on the lid, on their side of course, and will pick at the tape and plastic.

[Mittmom]

Thank you Hermiesguardian! I really appreciate it!

[Mittmom]

What type of light do you recommend for viewing them?

[Hermiesguardian]

Thank you Hermiesguardian! I really appreciate it!

You're welcome!

[Hermiesguardian]

What type of light do you recommend for viewing them?

An led light gives off less heat but and for short amounts of time viewing is ok. They need several hours of dark. Alot of us actually have cameras in our tanks. That way we can see what they do all night long.

[Mittmom]

I see, so natural light during the day (no bulbs) and no light at night. UTH for heat.

[Hermiesguardian]

I see, so natural light during the day (no bulbs) and no light at night. UTH for heat.

Yup.

[soilentgringa]

I see, so natural light during the day (no bulbs) and no light at night. UTH for heat.

I don’t know where people got the idea that artifical lights weren’t okay for hermits but that’s not accurate.

They need a day/night cycle similar to wherever they are from (different species). Most of the crabs we get are from areas closer to the equator than where a lot of us humans live. A 12 hour day / 12 hour night cycle is typical.

This isn’t achievable in the U.S., for the most part, unless you use lamps.

Regular old LED house bulbs in a fixture barely put off any heat and can sit right on top of the tank. I have used them for the last couple of years, sitting directly on my screen lid or clamped over an area of clear acrylic (my tanks have always been covered with acrylic sheets under screen lids to keep humidity in). I have never experienced any warping or other issues with the plastic.

I also have a UVB, an 18” Reptisun 10.0, because I have straws and they’re said to live longer with the UVB. I do notice that my crabs hang out on the UVB side more but that could be because the full spectrum lighting as opposed to LED allows them to see as they would in the wild.






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[Mittmom]

Thank you, that makes sense (about the 12/12 cycle). I have read about a lot of people using lighting for better viewing and to mimic the natural cycles from where they live. I may add an LED light for daytime to our crabitat. We won't need any heat now that the UTH is on the way.

[LandFishh]

Won't turning on an LED when it's dark startle them? For now I leave a daytime light on from 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM, but since I haven't gotten a camera I've found myself wanting to watch them @ night. Which is the better option, a blue LED or a camera? I would only get one camera, though, which means I would only have a top view/angle.

[Hermiesguardian]

Won't turning on an LED when it's dark startle them? For now I leave a daytime light on from 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM, but since I haven't gotten a camera I've found myself wanting to watch them @ night. Which is the better option, a blue LED or a camera? I would only get one camera, though, which means I would only have a top view/angle.

Personally I would do the cameras. I have a camera in each tank. Even though you probably won't see the entire tank, how long can you stay up watching them? Lol.

[LandFishh]

Ok, I'll look into it. Thanks!

[Hermiesguardian]

Ok, I'll look into it. Thanks!

You're welcome!

[Motörcrab]

I'm not sure what to think about the tape on the inside of the tank. I would think if it isn't an all weather type of tape the humidity will eventually make it fall into the tank. I would be worried about a crab possibly getting an antenna stuck to it and possibly ripping it off.

As soilentgringa mentioned normal bulbs should be fine. If you were using heat bulbs or ceramic heaters in the fixtures that would cause a problem due to them being designed to generate heat.