HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Humidity changed with a few tank changes and need some advice...

HAD:
40g breeder with glass lid
2 pools with bubblers
Small moss pit (moistened)
1 6x35 uth (on back)
2 smaller ZooMed uth (on sides)
Temp was 79
Humidity great at 82-85% consistently

**I redecorated a little for more 2nd level space and wanted it warmer so...

NOW HAVE:
40g b with glass lid still
2 pools with bubblers still
Added small wading pool
2 small moss pits now
Added 2nd level covered in pillow moss
Added another 6x35 uth (on back)
Took away 1 small ZooMed uth
Temp now 82 (happy bout that)
Humidity dropped to 70-72% (not happy)

**I understand that a warmer temp can drop the humidity, but that’s why I added more moss everywhere and another small pool. Also wouldn’t have expected it to drop that much. I’m really not sure what else I can do. I’ve been misting (never had to do that before), but I want consistency and don’t want to have to rely on misting. It only brings it up for a very short period of time anyway. I’m going to calibrate the hygrometer today and also put it in a different spot in the tank to see if that makes a difference, but any other suggestions would be appreciated! I’m worried bc I’ve been waking up to it at like 70% and I don’t want them to suffer any gill damage.

I keep all moss moistened and also have coco fiber in my sub, which is sandcastle consistency moist as well. I even keep tape around the gaps where the bubbler tubes come into the tank, trying to hold in as much heat and moisture as possible.

I read a post on here recently where someone was saying bubblers make humidity go down unless they are inside the tank...anyone else see that? Thoughts?

Thank you as usual to all my HCA peeps and the help keeping my crabbies happy and safe!


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Does it feel humid? Maybe recalibrate you hygrometer?

Yea, it does. I’m calibrating it as I type this. I should be able to check it soon and see what it says!


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Hope that it's just the hygrometer! Let us know, curious minds and all!

Hopefully it is just the hygrometer. Is your hygrometer digital or analog? IMO analogs can be unreliable.
Here is a digital one that I use:
https://smile.amazon.com/AcuRite-00325- ... 184&sr=8-2



How deep is your substrate? Deeper moistened substrate helps tremendously. My substrate is 12-14" deep and I never have issues with humidity.

A quick way to add humidity is to hang a piece of wicking fabric or material from the top of the tat down to a container of water. I use a scrap of fishing net. Hope you get this solved.

Lol, that’s the exact one I have! Too funny. Sub is about 7”.

I calibrated it and it read 1% high (76%). So then I tried moving it to a different spot in the tank and now it reads higher humidity, but lower temp. Reads 79/79. Guess it’s just where I had it in the tank before...only a few inches back towards the back wall (where uths are) from where it is now, directly in the center of the tank. Just wouldn’t have expected that much of a difference in the reading! I’m going to try turning the bubblers off for a couple days too and see what that does, I’m curious.

Thank you all for the replies/help!


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CrabKate wrote:A quick way to add humidity is to hang a piece of wicking fabric or material from the top of the tat down to a container of water. I use a scrap of fishing net. Hope you get this solved.

This is a great idea, thank you!!


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