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[agentcrabby]

I decided to reorganize my tanks levels and decorations. Within seconds my hermies were out climbing and checking it all out. So cool but I feel bad they were perhaps bored. I will change it up at least weekly now

Thoughts?


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[GotButterflies]

I definitely think hermits can get bored with the same scenery. I think it's a good idea to change things up every now and then if you don't have any molters down. (Which is practically impossible for me!)

[Hermias_mom]

I like to change up my stick collection and arrangement every few weeks. They love to climb and munch on the oak leaves, raspberry canes, and one day maybe they'll like the blueberry branches I've acquired. But it's more of a second level thing when the molters are down. I have a ten gallon, which is just small, so I put the sticks across the cage in a variety of directions, connecting various second level features so they can climb around a lot on different paths.

Also, I change my shells out every week or so because I have one crab that CRAZY loves changing shells. Whenever she finds new shells, she'll change into something. I put them in various places in the tat for variety. Sometimes I hide them in the moss pit.

They are definitely more active after I change it up.

[agentcrabby]

I like to change up my stick collection and arrangement every few weeks. They love to climb and munch on the oak leaves, raspberry canes, and one day maybe they'll like the blueberry branches I've acquired. But it's more of a second level thing when the molters are down. I have a ten gallon, which is just small, so I put the sticks across the cage in a variety of directions, connecting various second level features so they can climb around a lot on different paths.

Also, I change my shells out every week or so because I have one crab that CRAZY loves changing shells. Whenever she finds new shells, she'll change into something. I put them in various places in the tat for variety. Sometimes I hide them in the moss pit.

They are definitely more active after I change it up.

So now that it is summer, I noticed my substrate (beach sand and EE) is too dry. I have a few hermies under so not sure how to re wet the substrate. Ideas?


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[Hermias_mom]

The two methods I know of for getting substrate moister while crabs are under are installing air stones (aka bubblers) in your water pools, or misting the substrate. Bubblers is a better long term solution I believe, and should gradually bring up the humidity of your substrate. I'll let other crabbers chime in on this. Misting can promote mold growth, and it's really easy to overwet the substrate, so you have to really be aware of how much you mist (using a facial mister and dechlorinated freshwater) if you go that route. Bubbler overspray can over-wet your substrate if you're not careful, and create standing water in the bottom to the tat (leading to mold growth, etc), so you do have to be sure they're set up properly. I hear that some overspray is normal as long as it's not excessive.

For both options, bubblers and misting, you have to be careful not over-wet your substrate - this could create standing water in the bottom of the tat and lead to mold/bacterial growth.

Here's a post about making double bubbler pools: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... le+bubbler

[GotButterflies]

So now that it is summer, I noticed my substrate (beach sand and EE) is too dry. I have a few hermies under so not sure how to re wet the substrate. Ideas?

Adding the air stones to the water bowls definitely helps. You just have to be careful of overspray. Overspray can lead to flooding. Misting can lead to flooding as well. Until all of your crabs are up, there isn't much that you can do.
You could always try adding an inch of substrate mixed with dechlorinated marine salt water. I mix my substrate that way, and it has never dried out. You can add 1" every 24 hours as long as you don't pack it down.