HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So I am sure someof my questions will be the same countless others have asked, however since everyone's story and cicumstances are unique I will tell you mine in the process of asking questions, hopefully you guys can help me out because I REALLY don't know what I am doing and hate it when living things I am responsiale for suffer which is why I am a firm believer in researching your pet before you buy it. Anyways moving on:

A Morning teacher at my center convinced upper managment that instead of a fish tank, to get a hermit crab tank instead. She has had several and knew how to take care of them and what not, I just wanted the kids to be able to have a pet. We have had them a total of three or four weeks now and here is a brief run down.

Week One: Get the stuff. Stuff meaning a 5 gallon rectangular fish tank, with a screen top, 2lb bag of that hermit crab sand that was green colored, and a bag of the forest beddding or something like that. Two small and one lage dish, three of those decorated crabs and two slightly larger painted shell and those hermit crab pellets, she put water from the tap in large dish, pellets in the smallone and left the other one empty. We then proceded to lose our first crab and it was replaced. She would do the chores or what ever every morning that I could see however by the end of the week bordom had struck. There were three crabs.

Week Two I come in I think it was like mid week in a afternoon, and the water dish is bone dry and she asks me to fill it to where it has now became my responsiability to upkeep slowly but surly since I close out the room. Do what I see her doing but lose another crab. Now I know this is not natural. It was to get cold that weekend and I think that is what killed it or dehydration.

Week Three Not knowing anything I google hermit crab care and find out about the water, luckily I have fish tanks at home so made up a gallon of declorinated fresh water and a gallon of salt water to take up to the classroom and use in the bowls instead. Also read about the heater but am having trouble finding one mostly because I am not sure really what I am looking for suggestions/advice? I also added more hermit crab sand so the substrate which was barely an inch in a half and dry is now about 3.5 ro 4" and moist they have already been burrowing into it. I made a little hiding place out of a plastic bowl until I can find or make something more sutiable. I have read about making multipul layers for them to climb in a tnk? Not sure how to go about doing this. I know when they get bigger if I get them to survive,they will need a bigger tank, I am working on saving some aside for that day.

What have i missed? Or any advice to help me out here? I have been bringing them home on the weekends, and coviring them on the week nights to try to help with heat until I can find a heater

Hello,
Glad you found out about the water, the second you said "tap" water, I was like "no."

A heater is VERY important. My heater is made by zoomed. It is flat, and you stick it to the side. I have seen them in most pet stores (petsmat, petco).

A 10 gallon is the minimum size of a tank you should have. A 5 gallon for three crabs is too small.

I would recommend using play sand for the substrate, I think you can find it at home depot.

I would also recommend buying some natural shells, the painted shells are not safe.

I think getting hermit crabs is amazing, their a great learning experience!!

Feel free to ask anymore questions you may have.

Good Luck,
Bonnie

Also you said the substrate was dry? Do not let that happen! If you get Eco earth bricks of coconut fiber (usually$10 for 3bricks) and mix it into the play sand it helps hold in humidity- which they need to breath. You going to want some sort of mister like a spray bottle to mist freshwater to help keep humidity up and sand moist. Substrate should be "sandcastle" consistency. Substrate should be 3x your largest crab is tall. 3.5-4 is very shallow. We have a lot of info on this site- deff check out the crab care guide.
The kind of heater you want is a under tank heater- or ultratherm. But for crabs you will want to stick it on the side of the tank. You can get small ones at petco or order them from Amazon, or any reptile place really. The important things they need are humid air to breathe, heat, adequate substrate to bury in, extra shells to change into, salt and fresh water, deep enough that the can sit in the dish but they also need to be able to get out. Yogurt cups can be a good size- maybe a few rocks so they can get out if it's too deep. Also crabs love fresh and dried foods. Chopped up grapes are a favorite for mine.
Ask if you need or can't find information! We are all happy to help!

Edit: Saran Wrap over the top (with some airflow) helps hold in humidity in a tank! I did that for a while until I bough plexi glass.

Thanks for the help,the crabs are small only one in a half or two inches big approx. give or take I am eyeballing them, and are able to burrow under completely, I did mositen the sand when I added the new sand in.Unfortunatly until I save up some money for a bigger tank they are kind of stuck for the moment, I figure with them being small they should be okay until I get a bigger tank at least around my next paycheck or one after right?

I will remember what you said about play sand, I just read that myself. i can do that for the new tank when I can get it. What would be the correct tank size for three crabs, I would probably try and make climbing areas with different platforms and what not to explore in the bigger tank.

Heater, I checked petco last weekend but did not see a UTH maybee I just did not know what I was looking for, I will check again on the way home today. In case I have to go with a heat lamp, what would be a good wattage on the bulb or type of bulb? Where can I find natural shells, all the ones they sell for hermit crabs that I have found are painter, or are counch shells that are too big for my current sized crabs.

For shells for little ones check out dollar general or other dollar stores. Dollar general has little bags of shells meant for decor that are $1 each and have multiple usable shells. It is cheap, easy and they love the little green turbo shells you can get that way. This is what I am talking about.

Thanks I can check that area out on the way home as well be passing right back by one. About how much of the screen should I saranwrap?

90%

Also. You can get 10gal tanks for like $10 or less typically on craigslist.

if anyone is in area. I carpool and do not at the moment own my own car. How big of a tank is needed for three crabs idealy?

3 crabs could live in a 20 gal comfortably for a while. Where are you located? I have a few 10 and 20 gals in the garage collecting dust.

I live in texas. I am not to worried on the tank, I can get the heater one paycheck, the tank another, the stuff in the tank another if need be depending on hours. Would three small crabs be okay in that tank for two or three weeks? Or should I try to get it soooner?

What is agood suggested mantinence schedual? I already figured change water dishes once a day,and food daily or every other day depending on what it is. I shift through and check the bedding once a week right now since we had them.

Should I be doing a weekly and montly cleaning? If so what should it be. I am assuming I shouldn't use soap like with fish so I haven't what can I use to clean it with?

The tank really doesn't need to be cleaned that often. If it starts to look gross, then clean it, but other than that, maybe every 6 months. Like you said, change the water everyday, and food every other day.

Thanks. That's good to know then. I will keep all that in mind.

You can use vinegar as your soap to clean the walls of your tank and to sterilize shells. Make sure you mix with water if you're going to be soaking shells though, they will dissolve.

I will rememberi have in my that, I know though that not all shells will disolve though mostof them will. I do that to test the deortive shells aquariam.

What is a good temp and humidity level? Our classroom has a lot of windows so the internal temp flucates some what between day and night, I have the tank away from all the windos