HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I have a 10 gallon tank and need a cheap thermometer/hygrometer that will work and work well. I've had a zoo med one that didn't seem accurate and a digital one that stopped working. Thank you.

I use an Acurite Digital thermometer/hydrometer. Got it at Walmart for maybe $8 or $10. The temp was correct, the humidity 3% off. Be warned, though, not to get it wet. The temperature display is completely messed up now. It is still acurate, and I can piece together what it says.

^ Same!

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-204592 ... ometer.jsp

Is this the one?

I think this is the same one I had before. It was good but broke after a year or two. Maybe because it fell off the top of the aquarium. lol

JulesRolyCrab wrote:I use an Acurite Digital thermometer/hydrometer. Got it at Walmart for maybe $8 or $10. The temp was correct, the humidity 3% off. Be warned, though, not to get it wet. The temperature display is completely messed up now. It is still acurate, and I can piece together what it says.

Yep, same here. As long as I was still able to see the daily high/low readings on the far right side, I was a happy camper. Unfortunately, I did have to buy a new Acurite last month after the screen on the old one finally went completely dark -- can't complain though because it did last a year!

mylilhermies wrote:http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-204592 ... ometer.jsp

Is this the one?

I think this is the same one I had before. It was good but broke after a year or two. Maybe because it fell off the top of the aquarium. lol

It's this one:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/AcuRite-Digit ... r/16888914

Crabinski wrote:Yep, same here. As long as I was still able to see the daily high/low readings on the far right side, I was a happy camper. Unfortunately, I did have to buy a new Acurite last month after the screen on the old one finally went completely dark -- can't complain though because it did last a year!

Haha, mine begin the screen deterioration after one measly month. Still works fine, though.

I just bought it at Wally world today...
How do you guys set it up in your tank? I noticed it has a magnetic backing. But my aquarium isn't magnetic. lol

mylilhermies wrote:I just bought it at Wally world today...
How do you guys set it up in your tank? I noticed it has a magnetic backing. But my aquarium isn't magnetic. lol

I just prop it up in the right front corner of the tank as that's the coolest and driest spot. That way the readings I get reflect the tank's lows so I know the back of tank with the UTH is several degrees warmer and the left with the bubbling pools is moister. Of course, the crabs knock the unit over on a daily basis as nothing is sacred to them !

I prop mine against the glass as well, in the front. I don't have bubblers, so it is the coolest, humid-ist (?) part of the tank, because it is dryest near the heater. I recently put up an alchohol thermometer w/ a suction cup on the hottest side, just to make sure the temperature is in the safe range on that side.

If you want, you can cover the magnet w/ a velcro strip, and do the same on the glass of the tank somewhere. I didn't because I wanted my thermometer to be in the front. I orginally had the thermometer against the back wall, and Ludwig took it upon himself to wedge himself in the "tent", between the gauge and the glass. As Crabinski said, be prepared to have to right the thermometer a ton!

Thanks guys. Maybe I will try the velcro but too lazy right now. lol

And yeah I propped mine up in the corner on the cocohut. Was fine till my crab went over there and caused trouble. Crabs will be crabs.

If the magnet is strong enough you could always consider putting another magnet on the other side of the glass maybe? I don't think magnets would do any damage to the crabs since they couldn't access the one on the outside. Worth a shot but might not work if your tank glass is super thick or you don't have a strong enough magnet.

Honestly I am having the same problem lol. Mine have even dragging it into the water pools -.- lil devils some times lol. I got 2 cheap ones off of ebay that work really well. They match the reading of the other 2 that I have. It actually got soaked and I let it dry out and it is back to working, I am shocked lol. Last one they did that to was the expensive fluckers one -.- n that never worked again.
Does anyone use the wire censor ones? If so how do you keep your crabs from pinching the wire and tearing it apart? I thought of running it in some rubber hose like the bubbler tubes but was worried it would mess with the readings. Any ideas?

I know you want cheap options but honestly I went through several of the $10 one from Walmart before deciding to spend money on a good one. I haven't had a problem since. I have this one.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/AcuRite-Digit ... n/23678214

You put the sensor inside the tank. You can link up to 3 of them to one base so you can monitor multiple tanks with one unit. The additional sensors are like $10 on the acurite website. The numbers on the left (outside) will show the tank conditions since reporting what the sensor says and the numbers on the right are the conditions in your house. The base itself monitors that stuff. It can be adjusted if your numbers are off. I have had it a long time without a glitch. I wasted just as much money as it cost on other gauges. It can be mounted on the wall and since it is wireless you can take the base wherever would need to within a certain distance. I use it in bed when I need to monitor the tank after a change.



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Thanks for the advice everyone.

Maybe I will try putting a strong magnet outside the tank at some point.
And wow...that is one cool thermometer/hygrometer. Sounds neato. Perhaps I'll buy it next time...

But for now I'm working with what I have...already spent enough on these crabs...My hermitcrabpatch.com order is in transit at this very moment...