Maintaining good substrate consistency

This is where you discuss the conditions of your crabitat -- temperature, humidity, substrate, decorating, etc.
Post Reply
User avatar

Topic author
asiankanye
Posts: 226
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2020 6:00 pm
Location: North Carolina

Maintaining good substrate consistency

Post by asiankanye » Sat Sep 19, 2020 5:35 pm

Hi guys, I haven't posted in a while but I have returned with a question. The substrate on the RHS of my tank has a pretty perfect consistency, as whenever I stick my finger straight down into the substrate, the substrate holds. On this side I have about 5:2 sand:EE. But on the other side of my tank, the substrate is much deeper. About 2 inches down, the substrate is a pretty good consistency. Although it looks dry, about a week ago I saw one of my molting crabs down there with the tunnel holding perfectly. But the top is extremely dry all the time. And this is only on the LHS of the tank. I suspect it has something to do with the playsand:EE ratio being about 2:3. I know one solution to this is adding playsand to mix into this side, but the issue is that I have 4/5 crabs molting right now and I don't know which side they are molting on. Do you guys know a solution to this without having to add playsand or disturb the molting crabs? Thanks!

User avatar

Topic author
asiankanye
Posts: 226
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2020 6:00 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: Maintaining good substrate consistency

Post by asiankanye » Sat Sep 19, 2020 10:50 pm

Well... it looks like not all of them are molting after all. I replaced their food dish and tried out some fresh tilapia, and 2 of the “molters” came up from the ground and the two and the one who was already up are now sharing it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

GotButterflies
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 7311
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:56 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Re: Maintaining good substrate consistency

Post by GotButterflies » Sun Sep 20, 2020 10:55 am

You can always do a mixture that works for your tank :) That consistency won't always work for everyone.
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com

User avatar

Topic author
asiankanye
Posts: 226
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2020 6:00 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: Maintaining good substrate consistency

Post by asiankanye » Sun Sep 20, 2020 2:37 pm

Got it, thanks!

User avatar

GotButterflies
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 7311
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:56 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Re: Maintaining good substrate consistency

Post by GotButterflies » Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:12 pm

asiankanye wrote:
Sun Sep 20, 2020 2:37 pm
Got it, thanks!
Yw! :)
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com

User avatar

wodesorel
Tech Support
Tech Support
Posts: 10594
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:49 am
Location: Leetonia, Ohio
Contact:

Re: Maintaining good substrate consistency

Post by wodesorel » Mon Sep 21, 2020 2:01 am

I'd suggest just spraying it down with freshwater as it dries off. That the EE is releasing so much moisture is also what is contributing to the humidity levels and probably helping to keep it stable. That is one of the benefits of using more EE, the humidity gets a good boost - and it means having to replace that moisture as it evaporates.
Want to see all my crazy pets? @waywardwaifs on Instagram

User avatar

Topic author
asiankanye
Posts: 226
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2020 6:00 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: Maintaining good substrate consistency

Post by asiankanye » Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:49 pm

Yeah, my humidity has been at 99% ever since I added the playsand. I do mist the tank, although I try to limit this to once a week.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

HermitofHermitCrabs
Posts: 167
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:19 am

Re: Maintaining good substrate consistency

Post by HermitofHermitCrabs » Wed Sep 30, 2020 6:38 pm

I have two large bubbler pools (fresh and salt). It keeps about half the tank perfect for digging.
9 PPs in a 125 G Terrarium since August 2020: Sebastian (F) - 2 Molts, Midnight (F) - 2 Molts, Red (M) - 2 Molts, Jello (F) - 3 Molts, Ninja (M) - 1 Molt, Shelly (M) - 1 Molt, Tiny (?) - 3 Molts, & Dot (?) - 1 Molt

Formerly had ~40 from 2004 to 2010.

User avatar

Topic author
asiankanye
Posts: 226
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2020 6:00 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: Maintaining good substrate consistency

Post by asiankanye » Thu Oct 01, 2020 8:11 pm

Yeah, that's the main issue I'm having. The right half of my tank and especially the substrate around the pools is almost perfect consistency.

User avatar

HermitofHermitCrabs
Posts: 167
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:19 am

Re: Maintaining good substrate consistency

Post by HermitofHermitCrabs » Thu Oct 01, 2020 10:14 pm

Well, in my opinion you don't want the entire tank to have moist sand. If a crab wants to dig where there's dry sand they will usually make it damp on their own by using water from their shell.
9 PPs in a 125 G Terrarium since August 2020: Sebastian (F) - 2 Molts, Midnight (F) - 2 Molts, Red (M) - 2 Molts, Jello (F) - 3 Molts, Ninja (M) - 1 Molt, Shelly (M) - 1 Molt, Tiny (?) - 3 Molts, & Dot (?) - 1 Molt

Formerly had ~40 from 2004 to 2010.

Post Reply