For presenting do-it-yourself projects for your crabitat and for discussing and displaying custom built crabitats. Also for questions and reviews on equipment and products. *Stores and their reviews now have their own section in Classifieds*
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Topic author
ciaraalston
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by ciaraalston » Sat Jul 07, 2018 4:43 am
So, I want to add a hamster wheel to the 55. I see that y'all add craft mesh to the inside.... the one im ordering has ridges on the inside, would I still need the mesh? Also, how do y'all install... do you just set it in or mount it on the side of the tank??
Thanks!
Also, I'm attaching a pic so y'all can see what I'm thinking of ordering.
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4 purple pinchers & 2 ecuadorians living a life of luxury in south west Louisiana.
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piratetoothgir
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by piratetoothgir » Sat Jul 07, 2018 6:25 am
You’ll want the mesh, the crabs can’t walk properly without the traction from it. I drilled holes on the sides and ziptied the mesh into the circle. You will want to hang it from the tank by using command hooks or any other type of hook.
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Crabber Since 2016
7 Caribbeans & 2 Ecuadorians
I am the proud owner of my hermit crabs, aquarium fish, and isopod totes!
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Topic author
ciaraalston
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by ciaraalston » Sat Jul 07, 2018 6:27 am
Is this size good?
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4 purple pinchers & 2 ecuadorians living a life of luxury in south west Louisiana.
Follow my hermit crab learning journey on instagram! @hermitcrabs_in_the_boot
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piratetoothgir
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by piratetoothgir » Sat Jul 07, 2018 6:34 am
ciaraalston wrote:Is this size good?
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I don’t see why not, how big are your crabs?
I have the six inch wheel.
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Crabber Since 2016
7 Caribbeans & 2 Ecuadorians
I am the proud owner of my hermit crabs, aquarium fish, and isopod totes!
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Topic author
ciaraalston
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- Location: Louisiana
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by ciaraalston » Sat Jul 07, 2018 6:36 am
Well, the two I have were about an inch and an inch and 1/8 before they went down.
[Rajah was bigger and he's been down since June 3rd. Sebastian was only an inch and he's been down about a week and a half. I think I've got some molters!!!]
I'm not sure how big the ones I'll add will be. I'm going to try to adopt but I don't see many people from Louisiana so I might have to buy
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4 purple pinchers & 2 ecuadorians living a life of luxury in south west Louisiana.
Follow my hermit crab learning journey on instagram! @hermitcrabs_in_the_boot
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piratetoothgir
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by piratetoothgir » Sat Jul 07, 2018 6:37 am
ciaraalston wrote:Well, the two I have were about an inch and an inch and 1/8 before they went down.
[Rajah was bigger and he's been down since June 3rd. Sebastian was only an inch and he's been down about a week and a half. I think I've got some molters!!!]
I'm not sure how big the ones I'll add will be. I'm going to try to adopt but I don't see many people from Louisiana so I might have to buy
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That should work!
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Crabber Since 2016
7 Caribbeans & 2 Ecuadorians
I am the proud owner of my hermit crabs, aquarium fish, and isopod totes!
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Topic author
ciaraalston
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by ciaraalston » Sat Jul 07, 2018 6:38 am
Awesome!! Thanks
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4 purple pinchers & 2 ecuadorians living a life of luxury in south west Louisiana.
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Hermiesguardian
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by Hermiesguardian » Sat Jul 07, 2018 9:04 am
The other reason for adding mesh, so it goes beyond the edge of the wheel is because crabs walk with their legs stretched out. Especially yours seem to be large. And hang it upside down. I put something near mine, not touching, so they can climb up into it. With enough room from the ground because they will spin while on the outside and this way they don't bang into anything.
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
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Topic author
ciaraalston
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by ciaraalston » Sat Jul 07, 2018 10:31 pm
Hermiesguardian wrote:The other reason for adding mesh, so it goes beyond the edge of the wheel is because crabs walk with their legs stretched out. Especially yours seem to be large. And hang it upside down. I put something near mine, not touching, so they can climb up into it. With enough room from the ground because they will spin while on the outside and this way they don't bang into anything.
Oh okay, I see what you mean. Thanks!!
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4 purple pinchers & 2 ecuadorians living a life of luxury in south west Louisiana.
Follow my hermit crab learning journey on instagram! @hermitcrabs_in_the_boot
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soilentgringa
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by soilentgringa » Sat Jul 07, 2018 10:37 pm
Mine is standing on the substrate with no mesh and they do just fine in it.
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Hermiesguardian
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by Hermiesguardian » Sat Jul 07, 2018 10:45 pm
ciaraalston wrote:Hermiesguardian wrote:The other reason for adding mesh, so it goes beyond the edge of the wheel is because crabs walk with their legs stretched out. Especially yours seem to be large. And hang it upside down. I put something near mine, not touching, so they can climb up into it. With enough room from the ground because they will spin while on the outside and this way they don't bang into anything.
Oh okay, I see what you mean. Thanks!!
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Check this out.
https://youtu.be/z9DrVP1bMeQ
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
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Topic author
ciaraalston
- Posts: 1171
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 3:33 am
- Location: Louisiana
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by ciaraalston » Sat Jul 07, 2018 11:17 pm
Hermiesguardian wrote:ciaraalston wrote:Hermiesguardian wrote:The other reason for adding mesh, so it goes beyond the edge of the wheel is because crabs walk with their legs stretched out. Especially yours seem to be large. And hang it upside down. I put something near mine, not touching, so they can climb up into it. With enough room from the ground because they will spin while on the outside and this way they don't bang into anything.
Oh okay, I see what you mean. Thanks!!
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Check this out.
https://youtu.be/z9DrVP1bMeQ
Omg that is too cute!!
So, would a command hook hang it, or do you use something else?
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4 purple pinchers & 2 ecuadorians living a life of luxury in south west Louisiana.
Follow my hermit crab learning journey on instagram! @hermitcrabs_in_the_boot
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GotButterflies
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by GotButterflies » Sun Jul 08, 2018 3:49 pm
I use command hooks to hang mine.
Edit: I also recommend Medium wheels. I think a small would be too tiny.
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com
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Topic author
ciaraalston
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- Location: Louisiana
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by ciaraalston » Sun Jul 08, 2018 11:53 pm
GotButterflies wrote:I use command hooks to hang mine.
Edit: I also recommend Medium wheels. I think a small would be too tiny.
Perfect. Thank you!

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4 purple pinchers & 2 ecuadorians living a life of luxury in south west Louisiana.
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Eggster
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by Eggster » Sun Aug 05, 2018 1:03 am
Hope I'm not too late but the wheel you were looking at is pretty much the same one I use in my tank. I hung it from the top of my tank with command hooks and it has worked perfectly with no modifications.
The ridges actually provide enough traction that none of my crabs had any problems cranking that thing like they were on a treadmill.
The quality isn't the greatest but here's a silly video of two my crabs fighting over the hamster wheel. It's not how they normally use it but this video will give you an idea of how the unmodded wheel would act.
https://youtu.be/rfSkiqOlpX0
Edit: Crank the playback speed up all the way for a better experience