Substrate questions

[casssch]

Now that we're inching closer to getting the crabs, I'm second guessing everything. Is the substrate supposed to be packed in, or lose and fluffy? And is sand castle consistency more wet than dry, or more dry than wet?

[singlemomwithcrab]

Take a small tupperware, pack with sand and then turn it over. Does the sand keep the shape?

Sandcastle will keep the shape

[wodesorel]

I leave it loose and fluffy, though I'll pat down the top to make it easier to decorate.

It's up to you if you want to leave it more wet or more dry. More wet can lead to faster floods, but you won't have to fuss with the substrate or humidity as much. More dry will dry out faster, and you'll have to find a way to create humidity from another source (regular spraying or a fogger or something) so that the moisture isn't being pulled out of the substrate. I personally like to go with wetter on my 10 gallon, as then I'll only need to add water once every three months or so.

[casssch]

Thank you for the responses.