Need some Advice
Need some Advice
So I just got a tank and 7 hermies not even a month ago. Ive had two before but in a small tank . The tank I am running is a 20 long tank. So what I want to ask is what are some good heating, natural plants , and objects I could get that could help make the hermies I do have more active? I know that they are new and need time to adjust its just that Ive noticed that they havent eaten or come up in a 4 days. I try to keep the temperture around 70 and the humidity above 50 % , 80% max. I have the the salt and treated water dishes , a few shells, cholla wood in the tank, and a hide . Any advice advice would be really helpful. Thank you !
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soilentgringa
- Posts: 4352
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2014 5:18 pm
- Location: Dallas, TX
Re: Need some Advice
Hi! I don't have a lot of time to break down everything atm, but please read the care files thoroughly!
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=92457
Welcome!
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=92457
Welcome!
Re: Need some Advice
New crabs tend to dig down to destress when they are first placed into their permanent crabitat and may "disappear" for several weeks to do so. However, one reason your crabs may be lethargic is the tank's temperature and humidity: both are way too low. 75 degrees is the minimum temperature hermit crabs can tolerate and the humidity should be at least 70% (remember that hermit crabs breathe with modified gills and need a warm, moist environment to do so). Humidity over 80% is not an issue for the crabs but may contribute to mold growth on food and wood items.
A good heating solution is a UTH (under the tank heating pad attached to the outside back of the tank above the substrate line). Don't rely on the gallon size of the tank, just the physical dimensions. For a 20L with 6" of substrate, opt for a 6x23 UTH. The go-to brand for many crabbers is the Ultratherm, sold only online by ReptileBasics.com, BeanFarm.com and also through Amazon. A 6x23 Ultratherm, a 15 watt unit, will run $21.99 + shipping at ReptileBasics.com and is worth every penny. Ultratherms are reliable, easy to attach/remove and can be insulated if need be.
Boosting the humidity is easy to do by either adding a moss pit to the tank or bubblers to the pools. It's amazing how quickly the humidity will rise, especially with bubblers. Adding the latter is an inexpensive fix: for my 29g, the combined cost of a small aquarium pump, tubing, a T-splitter and two airstones, all found in Walmart's aquarium supplies section, was no more than $10!
PPs are also known as tree crabs and love to climb so adding items such as fish net, plastic/cloth vines and plants, resin trees, mopani or grapewood will all encourage them to move about more as well as offer hiding spots. Check out your local dollar store and thrift stores for vines, plants, plastic containers for deep pools/shell shops/moss pits. Fish net can be found at craft stores such as Michael's, Jo-Ann and Hobby Lobby (about $6 for a 3'x5' piece); resin trees, mopani and grapewood can be found at Petco/PetSmart in the reptile section -- a decent suction cup vine can also be found there for under $6.
This is my 29g, home to 4 PPs: deep pools, lots of climbing/hiding areas.
The first thing, though, is get the temperature and humidity up and stabilized as they should not fluctuate by more than a few degrees between day and night. Be sure to have a calibrated hygrometer and thermometer in the tank to be able to easily monitor humidity and heat. If the tank has a screen lid, cover most of it with saran wrap or aluminium foil to retain both moisture and heat.
Hope this helps!
A good heating solution is a UTH (under the tank heating pad attached to the outside back of the tank above the substrate line). Don't rely on the gallon size of the tank, just the physical dimensions. For a 20L with 6" of substrate, opt for a 6x23 UTH. The go-to brand for many crabbers is the Ultratherm, sold only online by ReptileBasics.com, BeanFarm.com and also through Amazon. A 6x23 Ultratherm, a 15 watt unit, will run $21.99 + shipping at ReptileBasics.com and is worth every penny. Ultratherms are reliable, easy to attach/remove and can be insulated if need be.
Boosting the humidity is easy to do by either adding a moss pit to the tank or bubblers to the pools. It's amazing how quickly the humidity will rise, especially with bubblers. Adding the latter is an inexpensive fix: for my 29g, the combined cost of a small aquarium pump, tubing, a T-splitter and two airstones, all found in Walmart's aquarium supplies section, was no more than $10!
PPs are also known as tree crabs and love to climb so adding items such as fish net, plastic/cloth vines and plants, resin trees, mopani or grapewood will all encourage them to move about more as well as offer hiding spots. Check out your local dollar store and thrift stores for vines, plants, plastic containers for deep pools/shell shops/moss pits. Fish net can be found at craft stores such as Michael's, Jo-Ann and Hobby Lobby (about $6 for a 3'x5' piece); resin trees, mopani and grapewood can be found at Petco/PetSmart in the reptile section -- a decent suction cup vine can also be found there for under $6.
This is my 29g, home to 4 PPs: deep pools, lots of climbing/hiding areas.
The first thing, though, is get the temperature and humidity up and stabilized as they should not fluctuate by more than a few degrees between day and night. Be sure to have a calibrated hygrometer and thermometer in the tank to be able to easily monitor humidity and heat. If the tank has a screen lid, cover most of it with saran wrap or aluminium foil to retain both moisture and heat.
Hope this helps!
PPs are Big Enzo, Charles Paris and Mr Pinch
On the Big Beach in the Sky: Murray, Gino, Oscar, Gordon, Ignatz, Harry and King Felix the Pale
Also Mom to Imogene the Syrian Hamster
On the Big Beach in the Sky: Murray, Gino, Oscar, Gordon, Ignatz, Harry and King Felix the Pale
Also Mom to Imogene the Syrian Hamster
Re: Need some Advice
What type of mosses are good to put into the tank ? Thank you both! 
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pandaincognito
- Posts: 597
- Joined: Sat Feb 20, 2016 9:47 am
- Location: coastal texas
Re: Need some Advice
I have zoomed frog moss for mine ^^
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2 small pp, smeegle (m), shellshock (m); 1 small/medium pp, shelldon (f), 1 medium/large pp, Godzilla (m)
1 dog, bender the min pin. And one betta named Henry. I dont know if its a boy or a girl, its still pretty young.
2 small pp, smeegle (m), shellshock (m); 1 small/medium pp, shelldon (f), 1 medium/large pp, Godzilla (m)
1 dog, bender the min pin. And one betta named Henry. I dont know if its a boy or a girl, its still pretty young.