New hermit crab owner - humidity and care Q’s

[Kellykoala333]

Hello!

I am a new hermit crab owner and have been learning a lot about hermit crabs in a short amount of time to make them as happy as they can be! So please be kind in any advice I’m really trying here! I’m still very new to this (have had my hermit crabs a little over 2 weeks) I got them a 10 gallon tank for my 2 crabs, have included safe moss for them, salt water, freshwater, stuff to climb on, have a small light above them that’s on from 7am-7pm and I mist the tank down in the morning and at night.

For the life of me I cannot keep my humidity up. On my gauge it’s on the lower end of “optimum” and their tank looks dry (unless of course I mist it, wetness doesn’t last)

Does anyone suggest a good humidifier/fogger that’s safe for the hermit crabs?

I have a mesh lid on the top, I’ve heard some people say to put a glass top on or cover it with Saran Wrap? Now I’m not trying to sound stupid but how do the hermit crabs breath without a mesh lid?

Lastly, I’ve noticed one of my crabs barely ever comes out, even at night. He stays burrowed almost all day and night. I check in on him and he’s not molting right now, maybe he’s still stressed? Any suggestions on how to make him more comfy?

Again thanks for any advice. I’m really trying to give them a good life and just need some advice.

[Hermiecrab]

Hello! And congrats! From one new/er owner to another. Here are a few educated guesses.
1. Sounds great! (See below about light).

2. If your light is the kind that emits heat, then it could be burning out all the humidity! This happens pretty often with lights meant for lizards or other reptiles. If it doesn't emit heat, a mesh lid will also not keep in humidity. For a temporary fix just rap it in saran wrap. (You will want to replace it with glass eventually though!)

3. Your crab is most likely just distressing. Leave him alone, don't dig him up and put lots of yummy vitamin rich foods in the tank. Your crab will come up when he is ready.

[JTKermie]

Sorry if I missed it, but is the lid mostly sealed? It pretty much has to be to maintain ~80% humidity in a small tank. I would also use a digital temp/humidity gauge as well. AcuRite is a popular one. The analog gauges aren't so great. In terms of oxygen for your crabs, I keep reading that just popping the lid to change water/food or re-arrange things lets enough O2 in for them. The only tiny gaps on mine is where the wire probe for the temperature controller runs out of the tank. I run a thermostatic controller on my UltraTherm heat mat that's attached to the back of my 29gal.

Is your substrate at least 3x as deep as your biggest crab? Preferably you keep it deeper.

In terms of adding moisture, just use a spray bottle of dechlorinated tap water to mist the moss in your tank. I wouldn't spray the glass or substrate.

[CrabbyLover77]

Hi! What are you using for your substrate? Most of use use a 5:1 ratio of play sand and eco earth. You can also use just sand or just EE too. Is it moistened to sand castle consistency using dechlor fresh or salt water? If not, that could be the issue of lower humidity. It also needs to be moist to hold tunnels when the crabs dig. My humidity is usually 90-99% in both of my tanks, and I never have to mist. My substrate is moist (should hold it's shape when you squeeze it but not be dripping wet) and I have glass lids. Also, what do you use for your salt water? A marine salt should be used, something like Instant Ocean.

Happy Crabbing!

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[Kellykoala333]

Hello!

Thanks for your replies. I currently have half sand, half a coconut eco earth substrate. I’m thinking I need to get the coconut eco earth substrate more wet and deeper so they can burrow more. It was originally wet when I put it in the cage but dried out since then.

I will try the Saran Wrap on the lid, have you guys tried that and your hermit crabs can breathe ok? I’m scared I’m going to suffocate the hermit crabs without the mesh lid uncovered!

I have a light on the top of the mesh but it’s a really small one on one side, with one of those tiny bulbs that goes into it. I also have a heating pad on the back side of the tank. Both of the heat is on one side of the the tank (coconut substrate).

That’s good advice about the thermometer, maybe switching that will better determine the temperature in there.

I have been using bottled fresh water and saltwater I got from pet smart. I think “thrive” is the brand? I will look for the one suggested here as well!

I think my last question is, do your crabs need more room to move around or more things to climb? I found this really cool moss covered hiding thing for them and they love it. Only problem is it takes up about half the tank (they have a 10 gallon tank), and their waters (fresh and salt) and food take up the other half. Not sure if It’s ok with how big it is or if I should get a smaller one so they have more room to run around.

Sorry for the long winded response, I don’t know anyone with hermit crabs so I figure this is he best place to ask my questions!!

Thank you,

K

[CrabbyLover77]

Hello!

Thanks for your replies. I currently have half sand, half a coconut eco earth substrate. I’m thinking I need to get the coconut eco earth substrate more wet and deeper so they can burrow more. It was originally wet when I put it in the cage but dried out since then.

I will try the Saran Wrap on the lid, have you guys tried that and your hermit crabs can breathe ok? I’m scared I’m going to suffocate the hermit crabs without the mesh lid uncovered!

I have a light on the top of the mesh but it’s a really small one on one side, with one of those tiny bulbs that goes into it. I also have a heating pad on the back side of the tank. Both of the heat is on one side of the the tank (coconut substrate).

That’s good advice about the thermometer, maybe switching that will better determine the temperature in there.

I have been using bottled fresh water and saltwater I got from pet smart. I think “thrive” is the brand? I will look for the one suggested here as well!

I think my last question is, do your crabs need more room to move around or more things to climb? I found this really cool moss covered hiding thing for them and they love it. Only problem is it takes up about half the tank (they have a 10 gallon tank), and their waters (fresh and salt) and food take up the other half. Not sure if It’s ok with how big it is or if I should get a smaller one so they have more room to run around.

Sorry for the long winded response, I don’t know anyone with hermit crabs so I figure this is he best place to ask my questions!!

Thank you,

K

It's def ok to completely cover the mesh. I have glass tops which seal the entire tops of my tanks. I open them every day or two to change food or water, move things around, fix things they destroy lol etc, and that allows for enough air exchange.

If you're using a heat lamp on your mesh top, you cannot cover that area with saran wrap. The heat lamp will melt it. You also can't use a heat lamp with glass tops. The heat will crack them. If your temps are between 75-85°F without the lamp (you said you have a uth), then you wouldn't need it anyway. I use Ultratherm mats insulated with aluminum foil on my tanks, and they stay pretty warm.

The saltwater you got doesn't have all of the minerals crabbies need. Unfortunately, many things marketed for hermits aren't really great for them. You'll def have to pick up a marine salt. It's also perfectly fine to use tap water with a dechlorinator that gets rid of chlorine, chloramine, and detoxifies heavy metals. Prime is perfect for that. Bottled water is also way more expensive than tap with Prime.

Hermit crabs are used to walking miles on beaches, but they like to climb too. If they really enjoy climbing the ornament you put in there, I'd leave it. I have 2 hamster wheels in my 55 gal tank for the crabs to walk on and they love them. I have a smaller wheel in my 20 gal long, and those guys don't seem to mess with it. It just all depends on the crab I guess. The more room you can give them, the better. I've been looking to upgrade my 20 gal soon. All the crabs in there I rescued started out small, but a couple are on the medium side already. My babies are growing up so fast lol!!

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[Kellykoala333]

Thank you so much for the advice @crabbylover77! This has been really helpful. I’m definitely going to get some more stuff today to make the hermit crabs even more comfortable and happy!

Also, I currently have 2 hermit crabs, do you think I should get them one more friend? I was reading online they are very social and should have at least 3. I don’t know what gender my hermit crabs are, so I’m kinda worried if I get one more there might be hermit crab babies?

Sorry for all the questions, I just am pretty new to all of this!

Thank you,

K

[CrabbyLover77]

Thank you so much for the advice @crabbylover77! This has been really helpful. I’m definitely going to get some more stuff today to make the hermit crabs even more comfortable and happy!

You're welcome!

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[Hermiecrab]

There is really no reason to get another friend. IF you have the room, then go for it! But if not, then it's perfectly fine.

[Kellykoala333]

Thank yo for all your help everyone! I took all your advice and last night the crabs were running around, climbing and playing. Which was GREAT because they seemed to just not move around much, with the humidity levels up, they seem happier!

I appreciate your help!

K

[CrabbyLover77]

Yay that's great!

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