HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I don't know if this belongs here, but is there any way to make a climbable surface such as mesh using household items? I thought about cutting off the top of a fly swatter, but I'm not completely sure whether the plastic is safe to use.

If the fly swatter is not electric it should be fine but I would recommend to get a very small thin one so that their legs doesn’t slip through and they don’t fall. Also make sure to boil it before putting it into the tank


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Boil plastic? I wouldn't recommend that. Not a fly swatter. We use plastic craft mesh and egg crate light diffuser. Jute/hemp climbing ropes, Cholla are great climbing things.

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Oh sorry I misread and thought it was metal.


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Also you can get jute at most dollar stores for a good price


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Ah, I was not aware that there are metal/screen type fly swatters! I've only seen plastic where I live! Apparently, there are metal swatters as well! My bad! Therefore, I cannot say if a metal swatter is good or bad for a crabitat, other than to watch for rust. Even so, I wouldn't boil it. Anything metal, exposed to humidity, as what's needed in our crabitats, will eventually rust. Try plastic crafting mesh..the stuff grandma makes tissue box holders out of!

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Xenocrab wrote:Ah, I was not aware that there are metal/screen type fly swatters! I've only seen plastic where I live! Apparently, there are metal swatters as well! My bad! Therefore, I cannot say if a metal swatter is good or bad for a crabitat, other than to watch for rust. Even so, I wouldn't boil it. Anything metal, exposed to humidity, as what's needed in our crabitats, will eventually rust. Try plastic crafting mesh..the stuff grandma makes tissue box holders out of!

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Hey! I'm not a grandma! lol

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Ok, I'll try and find some mesh online. But here lies another issue. The mesh is supposed to be flexible, right? I need some help finding some mesh that you can mold to whatever shape you want. I found some stiff ones, but I'm not sure if the unlabelled ones are stiff or flexible.

EDIT: this comment was useless. the crafting mesh probably has the word crafting in it for a reason lol

Most plastic crafting meshes will bend, but if you want them to hold their shape you need to heat them up with a hair dryer while bending them.


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JoeHermits wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 29, 2020 9:52 pm

Most plastic crafting meshes will bend, but if you want them to hold their shape you need to heat them up with a hair dryer while bending them.


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Thanks for the tip-- don't need it now but hey, you never know!

Would this be good, or are the holes too small?
https://www.consumercrafts.com/store/de ... CPEALw_wcB
I might also be able to get my dad to go to the local Michael's early in the morning to avoid people and get one of these mesh things

It looks like the holes might be a little small. I would see if your dad wouldn't mind going to get some. Just make sure they can grab it to climb, whatever you do get!
Edit: It may very well be fine for them and they may be able to grasp it, but it doesn't look like it to me)

Yup, I'll probably go with him to get it so I can find which one is best for the hermies.

Alright, sounds good!

Thanks for help!