So I think I can convince my family to let me get a pair of PP's, but I'm terrified of messing something up, so I was hoping people could review what I know I need and suggest anything I've forgotten. I'm in the UK, so I can't use all these great (and cheaper!) US sites.
I've got plenty of plastic tanks, plastic totes, etc. Plenty of sizes to choose from, even though a few need a bit of taping back together. I have plain blocks of coir, and I can get sand by popping down the road to the garden centre I suppose? (I'd feel bad making the post guy drag a 15lb bag from the car to my door). I've got marine salt, stress-coat and a natural sea sponge on my eBay list.
Heating isn't a problem, my room has double-glazed windows, a portable heater and microwave heat packs for emergencies. Humidity is always an issue for me though, and more so my collection of snails. Any tips on raising humidity in tanks short of buying a whole sack of sponges would be great, but hey, I'll buy a sack of sponges anyway if I have to.
I have a huge box of cuttlebone and a horse-size tub of powdered calcium already, so that won't run out any time soon, and food is everywhere. My snails are eating pumpkin, butternut squash, pear, cucumber, banana and spinach today, I have a practically infinite supply of dog biscuits (despite not owning a dog) if crabs happen to like those. There's fruit, veg, I can get mangoes, coconuts and assorted nuts at the supermarket. Is frozen/dried fish food a necessity? I can order it online, but if it's needed I'd rather buy it sooner rather than later.
As for decorations, we go shopping for hamster bits and pieces on a regular basis, so I can pick up ladders, branches, etc. I've got more than enough hides, my smaller tarantula lives in a coconut I carved out and there's plant pots everywhere. Water/food dishes are in the garage, but I have plenty of food pots too.
I'm sure I've forgotten something already, I'm terrible at keeping track of things.
Checklist?
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hermitcrabdc
- Posts: 829
- Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2013 3:49 pm
- Location: Ohio/Arkansas
Re: Checklist?
Hey there welcome to the HCA 
I know how you feel, right before I got my hermit crabs I was worried that I'd do something wrong and would be a terrible owner. You just have to get past that, and once you get started it's much easier than it seems at first.
So take a deep breath and we'll figure everything out
-Sand if fine as long as it's play sand not treated for anything. At least 6 inches deep.
-If you use sponges make sure to clean them often because they'll collect bacteria.
-For two crabs you'll want to try and use at least a 10 gallon, tank or storage bin, whatever you decide to use.
-Humidity can be raised with eco earth, humidifiers. It's likely the moist sand will help some in the set up at first too.
-Food sounds good but I would suggest not using the dog biscuits, unless I knew what was in it, if it were me I'd steer away to be safe.
-You may want to find some things for the crabs to climb on, but other than that it sounds like you got the tank pretty well covered.
-Do you have any way to know your heat and humidity? You may need to buy a thermometer.
It's great that you're planning everything before getting your crabs. Here's the care sheet just in case you haven't read through it yet
http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 51&t=92457
Good luck with getting some crabs
I know how you feel, right before I got my hermit crabs I was worried that I'd do something wrong and would be a terrible owner. You just have to get past that, and once you get started it's much easier than it seems at first.
So take a deep breath and we'll figure everything out
-Sand if fine as long as it's play sand not treated for anything. At least 6 inches deep.
-If you use sponges make sure to clean them often because they'll collect bacteria.
-For two crabs you'll want to try and use at least a 10 gallon, tank or storage bin, whatever you decide to use.
-Humidity can be raised with eco earth, humidifiers. It's likely the moist sand will help some in the set up at first too.
-Food sounds good but I would suggest not using the dog biscuits, unless I knew what was in it, if it were me I'd steer away to be safe.
-You may want to find some things for the crabs to climb on, but other than that it sounds like you got the tank pretty well covered.
-Do you have any way to know your heat and humidity? You may need to buy a thermometer.
It's great that you're planning everything before getting your crabs. Here's the care sheet just in case you haven't read through it yet
http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 51&t=92457
Good luck with getting some crabs
Crabbing since July 2013!
4 PPs - Chloe, Tani, Kono, McGarrett
4 PPs - Chloe, Tani, Kono, McGarrett
Re: Checklist?
That's really helpful, thank you! I'm sure I'll get used to it after a while, it's so exciting just thinking about it.
Re: Checklist?
Bubblers in one or both pools can also boost humidity. Moss pits too. I recently purchased a humidifier and used some of my husband's leftover pond tubing to pipe the mist into one of my tanks. It's working great so far. What is the temp in the room they're being kept in?
Food sounds great but don't skimp on proteins. Unseasoned meats, seafood, eggs, etc. You can also pick up freeze dried or frozen krill, shrimp, bloodworms, mealworms, crickets, etc from fish or reptile sections of pet stores. Can you list the ingredients in the dog biscuits? Don't forget extra shells. Thermometer and a hygrometer too. Fake plants provide extra cover and add some color.
Welcome!!
Food sounds great but don't skimp on proteins. Unseasoned meats, seafood, eggs, etc. You can also pick up freeze dried or frozen krill, shrimp, bloodworms, mealworms, crickets, etc from fish or reptile sections of pet stores. Can you list the ingredients in the dog biscuits? Don't forget extra shells. Thermometer and a hygrometer too. Fake plants provide extra cover and add some color.
Welcome!!