HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I'm currently trying to set up a new 50 gallon tank for my crabs and I’d like it to have some plants and air flow. I’ve been using the plant guide a lot and searching around for tips from previous posts but I have some questions that I was hoping people with more crabitat experience than I have might be able to answer.

I have many questions and I would be super grateful for help with any of them:

1. Is there a crab-safe substrate that anyone has found works especially well for growing bromeliads or ferns? I've seen a lot of different suggestions. I wanted to use rough coconut chips and moss but maybe the rough chips are better for orchids?

2. Is having to keep the tank around 80 degrees an issue for most plants (I’ve read that mosses like to be a bit cooler)?

3. Any tips on air flow/ventilation. My tank has to be pretty well sealed usually due to very dry, cold room conditions. I'm not sure how little ventilation I can get away with but I don't really want to have any constant holes bigger than a few mm in the tank... My topper is acrylic so even when I can't see holes the humidity can go down rapidly. Does anyone know if opening the tank for misting and food ~1-2 times a day and having a small fan inside of the tank would be enough airflow/exchange for most plants?

I think having a little breeze and some greenery could be engaging for my crabs so I'd really like to get it to work!

Idk much about plants but I hope it’s okay if I drop my two cents! Lmk if this is too off topic sorry in advance if so

I would think the coconut chips, depending how rough you want them, might not be super conducive to crabby burrows?

I’ve never done anything like this before so any input is greatly appreciated! Yes, that makes a lot of sense, I want to keep the actual crab substrate the same and add plant pots with a substrate that’s safe for when the crabs inevitably get into them and kick pieces out or taste them. I’m sorry, I realize now that it’s really not clear from my wording.

1. Chips won’t hold liquid water very well, which is fine for orchids but other plants may not fare as well. There are substrates made for terrarium plants, just be sure they don’t have fertilizers or anything you wouldn’t want your crabs to try snd eat. Sand, coconut fiber, moss, chips, or worm castings work as amendments.

2. For most plants, no, especially if adapted to tropical climates. Terrarium mosses should be fine, but cool-climate species may not grow as well.

3. Opening the tank once in a while will suffice. If you can get a fan going, even better. Air flow is always beneficial but trying to maintain conditions when the outside climate is the exact opposite can be tricky (namely a strong heater and fogger).


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Thank you! Okay, I like the idea of EE, chips and worms castings at different ratios depending on the plant, but I'll look more into mixes I can buy.

Yeah, it’s unfortunate that winter is like this in my home. I’ve been hesitant to try a humidifier because I’ve heard a lot about excess water running down in to the substrate. I saw someone said they just used the output from a household humidifier with aquarium tubing though so if I need to maybe I’ll do that.