HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So I finally got the new tank all set up! It was a much needed upgrade for my 2 straws and 2 PP's who were in a 20 gallon. The new one is around 35 gallons or so. I've got about 8-9 inches of sand and EE mix and it seems to be working well. It's a mesh top lid, so I had to get creative there. I have the 20 gallon hood lid on top, and saran wrap with tin foil on either sides to try and keep the humidity and temp in. No struggles with the humidity yet, but the temperature is awfully low (I've had to have a portable space heater pointed at it at all times for the past 24 hours), so I'll have to figure something out there.

Decorating wise, I've just done whatever I could. I hadn't planned on setting the tank up until Thursday or Friday, but last night I came home and found the two strawberries in the same tunnel/cave under the substrate and went into panic mode and decided that I needed to upgrade right then. They seem much happier now I'm still going to shop a bit more for some decorations, all that's in there now is what I already had lying around.

I'm trying something new with the water dishes, and so far it seems to be working great. I'm using one of those plastic dog dish holders that has separate bowls for food and water; I took out the metal bowls and found plastic containers at the dollar store that fit in the holes. So I have one bowl for salt water and one for fresh. The containers are large enough, so I will have room to put the bubbler back in the SW dish (just haven't had the time... Or energy yet!)

I do plan on adding some second levels, and a moss pit. I just haven't gotten out to shop for that yet (the nearest shops are an hour away), so I plan on doing that this week some time hopefully!

All in all, they seem to be enjoying it. They have all been active since I put them in, even my little shy guys. I've even had some shell changes!

Any suggestions would be great too!

Here is the tank from a distance:


One of my little guys in the leaves (also, he's the one who changed shells for me! Now he keeps going back and forth between that one and his old one.)


My smallest straw, I'd love for him to change shells. You can kind of see my temp-shell shop in the back. I plan to make a second level shell pit soon.


The right hand side of the tank, including the waterdishes.


Better shot of the shell shop/ the middle of the tank:


Rosie, my biggest straw:


Better shot of my waterdishes. I do plan on finding a way to secure the plants to the side a bit better to make it easier for the crabs to get up. I'm thinking I may drill some holes in the plastic bowl, and then use zip ties to secure the plants through. Sounds more permanent, easier, less time consuming and less messy than glue or silicone.




That's it for now! I wish I had gotten some pictures of the tank before the crabs got in, but I was in such a rush to transfer them. Needless to say, they trashed a lot of the tank before I could get nice clean pictures. But hey, who am I to stop them from decorating their new home... Right? :p




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Your tank looks great and your crabs are cute.

Great tank and crabs! All that green! Your straws are so cute!


Crabbers unite!!!

My straws are just like yours; one went right into a beautiful shell, the other stays in a too-small, chipped and beat up shell (and, he recently molted for 10 weeks so I thought he would change, but no). He has the most gorgeous choices but prefers to slum it!

Wow that looks great! You take very good pictures!

Very nice job and beautiful crabs! Artificial plants and vines are the way to go to provide both hiding spots and climbing opportunities -- at any given time, 2 or 3 of my PPs are on the vines/leaves or tucked beneath them .

Your tank is lovely and your straws are beautiful

Wow, that one beautiful tank! To bad that they going to decorate it. Did anyone tell you that your crabs are lovely?

Thanks everybody! I appreciate it


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What a beautiful home! I agree that lots of green is the way to go, they really appreciate the cover. Love the raised water bowls in the dog dish idea! Your crabbies look calm and relaxed. Great job!

Thank you! The raised water bowls are working very well so far. With my old pool I was having a lot of problems with the crabs tunnelling under so I wasn't able to change the water as much as I would have liked. This has completely fixed that problem!

My two straws immediately went under the substrate, I'm sure they're probably just excited to have so much extra room to dig! I'm hoping they're both molting... They needed it. Although I'm quite eager to have them come back up, my tank is boring without them!


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I love the look of your tank and your crabs seem to enjoy the new upgrade

Thank you! They do seem to enjoy it! Both of my straws went down and have been molting since I put them in (almost a month ago!). The small PPs have been running the tank ever since!