3rd wheel of the hermies tank?

Plasmoc · Post by **Plasmoc** » Thu Oct 25, 2018 9:09 pm

For the past few week my 2 smaller hermies huddle together on top of a cave, near the heater, during the day & night. They do venture out to explore and eat etc, but largely they are together up there. Meanwhile, my larger hermie is alone inside the big cave. He rarely comes out.

After a few weeks I placed the big guy on top of the cave with them. They looked st each other, climbed over each other, and the big guy stayed with them for 2 nights, then he moved back inside the cave.

Now one of the little guys keeps going back and forth, but mostly stays on top of the cave.

What on earth is going on? Is there such a thing as a third wheel for hermies? Is the big guy lonely?

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YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Sat Oct 27, 2018 2:22 pm

What is your tank temperature?

Also, crabs do like high points. They are called tree crabs for a reason

Do you have any organic branches or wood from the reptile section in there for them to climb?

Plasmoc · Post by **Plasmoc** » Sat Oct 27, 2018 6:09 pm

It’s a 10 gallon long, but I’m thinking about upgrading to a 20 gallon high.

They have a good about to cling on & hide in I think. They have a large cave, a plant climbing wall, 2 tall plants, and a reptile net that stretches the length of the tank & width in a triangle shape so there’s a second high area to explore too. I keep cuttlebone and millet up there, below they have fresh water, salt water, shells, and a food dish.

Temp
Is 75, I’m waiting on another heater in the mail.

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Plasmoc · Post by **Plasmoc** » Sat Oct 27, 2018 6:10 pm

Also, I tried a wood lattice thing but they never used it so I replaced it with the plant wall which they do use.

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YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Sun Oct 28, 2018 1:30 pm

Do you have any trees that are on the safe list? Oak, Maple, Sweetgum in your area? They need to be organic - no pesticides or fertilizers used. Crabs love to climb wood. Their nickname is tree crabs. You would also need to make sure they don't spray for mosquitos in your area.

I personally think 75 is way too low. If you want active crabs get your heat up. Put a towel or blanket in the dryer - no dryer sheet - and then drape it around your tank. Keep doing that to keep your tank warm until that second heater comes in.

Plasmoc · Post by **Plasmoc** » Thu Nov 01, 2018 8:19 am

There are 2 climbing trees in the tank to them to climb on, which the smaller ones enjoy. The bigger guy tends to stick to the cave or the ground, even though there’s s fair amount for them to climb on.

How would you best do the heaters? I have 2 5-10 gallon heaters now, one is on the side of the tank near the cave & trees. Where should the second heater go? I was previously told they should only have heaters in part of the tank so that if they get too hot they can go to the less/non heated area.

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Hermiesguardian · Post by **Hermiesguardian** » Thu Nov 01, 2018 8:32 am

Plasmoc wrote:There are 2 climbing trees in the tank to them to climb on, which the smaller ones enjoy. The bigger guy tends to stick to the cave or the ground, even though there’s s fair amount for them to climb on.

How would you best do the heaters? I have 2 5-10 gallon heaters now, one is on the side of the tank near the cave & trees. Where should the second heater go? I was previously told they should only have heaters in part of the tank so that if they get too hot they can go to the less/non heated area.

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You can put the heater along the back of the tank. That way the rear of the tank is warmer than the front.

RiNiKy506 · Post by **RiNiKy506** » Thu Nov 01, 2018 9:43 am

Plasmoc wrote:There are 2 climbing trees in the tank to them to climb on, which the smaller ones enjoy. The bigger guy tends to stick to the cave or the ground, even though there’s s fair amount for them to climb on.

How would you best do the heaters? I have 2 5-10 gallon heaters now, one is on the side of the tank near the cave & trees. Where should the second heater go? I was previously told they should only have heaters in part of the tank so that if they get too hot they can go to the less/non heated area.

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You are correct, they should have a cooler side to be able to go to. You have one on the side, put the other on the back, closer to the same side as the one you have. Or like Hermiesguardian said, put them both on the back, if your able remove the other one. If you have the ones with the sticky backing, I don’t think they can be removed and used again.

♡ Rod ♡ Salty ♡ Bob ♡ Squirt ♡ Crabina ♡
»-♡-> Our Purple Pinchers »-♡->

Plasmoc · Post by **Plasmoc** » Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:41 pm

I’m confused. I think I must’ve mislead by accident, one heater is on the long side (back) currently near a corner. If I put the second on the back also it’ll be next to their water dish. If I put it on the adjacent shirt side it’ll be next to the cave and trees. Which is better?

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RiNiKy506 · Post by **RiNiKy506** » Thu Nov 01, 2018 7:46 pm

Plasmoc wrote:I’m confused. I think I must’ve mislead by accident, one heater is on the long side (back) currently near a corner. If I put the second on the back also it’ll be next to their water dish. If I put it on the adjacent shirt side it’ll be next to the cave and trees. Which is better?

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I apologize, I might have misread also. You can put it on the side, closest to the one you have on already, so that the heaters are more on one side. On back side, to the right and then on the actual right side of the tank. It’s hard to type and know what someone means sometimes.

Somewhat like this, I actually have mine too far over, it should have been closer to the corner.

♡ Rod ♡ Salty ♡ Bob ♡ Squirt ♡ Crabina ♡
»-♡-> Our Purple Pinchers »-♡->

Post by **aussieJJDude** » Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:23 pm

You can place them both on the back if you don't want to loose viewing space on the side. Placing a heater near a water dish helps with evaporation and increases humidity- which may be useful.

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Plasmoc · Post by **Plasmoc** » Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:27 pm

Ahhh, ok thanks. Right now I set it up as both are along the same wall (back wall). It’s raises the temp to 80/82.... maybe I should’ve gotten a different kind?

One is a zoomed 5-10 gallon slim heater and this new one is a Hydor brand slim heater for 5-10 gallons.

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Post by **aussieJJDude** » Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:52 pm

Plasmoc wrote:Ahhh, ok thanks. Right now I set it up as both are along the same wall (back wall). It’s raises the temp to 80/82.... maybe I should’ve gotten a different kind?

One is a zoomed 5-10 gallon slim heater and this new one is a Hydor brand slim heater for 5-10 gallons.

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80-82 is fine IMO, so if its maintaining that temp (or at least HCA bare min, low 70's) you should be fine.

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RiNiKy506 · Post by **RiNiKy506** » Thu Nov 01, 2018 10:55 pm

The small one on the side of my small tank(in the picture above) is a ZooMed and the one on the back is a different brand, I had a hard time keeping the tank warm. I have an ultratherm on the tank they are all in now, I love it. It’s what a lot of others recommend to get and I’m really glad I went with it. I got it from reptilebasics.com and it was actually bigger and a lot cheaper than the ZooMed ones I have seen in pet stores.

♡ Rod ♡ Salty ♡ Bob ♡ Squirt ♡ Crabina ♡
»-♡-> Our Purple Pinchers »-♡->

YouTube · Post by **GotButterflies** » Fri Nov 02, 2018 9:28 am

80/82 is great IMO - you will see more active crabs.

Yes, Zoo Med does not recommend reusing heaters once you remove them because it can damage the heating mechanisms; HOWEVER - I can tell you that I have reused a couple that I have. I have one on my cricket cage and one on my frog cage (both glass) I hung them using Reflectix tape on the sides which is a heat tape - and I watch my temperatures. Mine are fine. I believe I have heard others have reused theirs as well.

I prefer Ultratherms because they are better for the money and can safely be insulated. www.reptilebasics.com is my favorite.

HCA: Hermit Crab Association