New purple pincher tank

[CrabbyJo]

Hi Purple pincers,
For cleaning, vinegar is safe for them. To clean a hidey out though, you can place it in boiling water for 5 minutes and that should kill anything inside. Vinegar is usually best used for cleaning out the tank itself when you deep clean, and should be completely rinsed off.

As for the heating, Wai is absolutely right, never ever use a heat rock. They can overheat and will dry out and/or kill your crabs. The crabs don't know to get off when it gets too hot.
A night bulb is a very good idea, get one of a lower wattage than your day bulb so they do have some temperature change at night as there would be in the wild.

Your tank looks like you've got a good start! You should look for some fake plants to help dress it up a bit, to give your crabs more things to climb on, and to give them a sense that they aren't in the wide open. They will come out more often and will feel more secure.

[ladybug15057]

I found your original post and merged them, it was listed 4 topics below this one that was started under "Chirp and Chat".
Lots of good recommendations in the first few pages of this thread, and a reply to the questions your replied to for help.

[Purple pinchers]

Thanks for the help .

Pack rat seems so much happier in the 10gal. He hardly ever sits in his hide out now and he is always runing around or eating . He also has found out that he can climb the corner net upside down.

[Purple pinchers]

So far everything is going great . Tonight was popcorn night

He loves all of the extra room in the 10gal. He has dug a big hole all the way down to the bottom of the tank. He likes to sit in it but does not burry himself. He also has been eating a lot. He comes out like ever hour to eat.

[Purple pinchers]

seems like when ever I walk in my room he is eating/drinking then its all hands on deck back to his hide out lol. Tomarow i am going to go shoping for some plants, how do plastic fish plants work?

Wow soon i will have to turn this in to my journel

[Purple pinchers]

Pack rat was very active about 3 days ago and always was active. But 2 days ago he was very inactive and buried himself. I was worryed so I setted some food out and waited to see if he came out to eat that night. He did unburied himself that night to eat. Then the next morning he was buried again and last night he never unburied himself. A couple of days before he started burying himself i checked to see if he had a water sack (the sack thing that fills up before a molt). He did not have one of those sacks so i did not think he was getting ready to molt. So why is he under there is he molting or is he sick?

[ladybug15057]

Your post was merged with the one already discussing pack rat and your other hermies. Did you correct the recommendations in the first 5 pages of this thread? What have you decided and done for a warming source, and the water?
What you maybe witnessing too is the effects of the lacking of the criteria in the previous pages, or maybe even a molt. One cannot always see the molt sac.

[Purple pinchers]

Yup I have correct everything i think.


What is the volume of your main tank?
10 gallons

How many hermit crabs do you currently have? How big are they?
1 medium

How long have you had the hermit crab(s) that you are concerned about?
for a little over 3 months.

What substrate or combination of substrates are you using? How deep is it?
I am useing all cocofiber and half of it is about 1 inch and the other side is 3-4 inches.

What do you feed your hermit crabs?
I feed them organic vegies, fruits, meat, and then sometime popcorn.

Do you use distilled, bottled, tap or other types of water?
I use tap.

If you are using a dechlorinator, what brand is it? Does it state to remove all heavy metals, chlorine and chloramines?
Its API and yes it does
What brand of sea salt are you using to supply your hermit crabs with salt water?
Instant ocean.

What heat source are you using and where is it positioned?
I use a heat lamp with a Zoo Med Night Light Bulb (red) at night. Then in the day I turn it on and off depending on the temp.

Have you calibrated your thermometer(s) and hygrometer so that you can interpret accurate readings?
Well my hygrometer broke so for now i am just misting it like i did when i did have one (hopeing to buy one soon). And thermometer works good

What is the air temperature range and humidity inside the tank?
Temp is cold side about 70 and hot side about 80. The humidity is about 70-80%

What is the highest temperature that the substrate near the heat source reaches?
I will check that when i find my thermometer i use for the dirt.

Do you have any photos of your tank or hermit crab(s) of concern? If yes, please attach them to your post.
gallery/image_page.php?album_id=123&image_id=548 That pic is a little out dated but my set up is all the same axcept for i have a few plastic plants in there now.

[ladybug15057]

Well from rereading your answers he could also be burrowing due to the temp or humidity level. Misting alone does not ensure a proper humidity level that they need to breath properly so he may be trying to either keep his gills moist, or trying to cool down or warm up....
But so far it seems you are headed in the right direction.

[Purple pinchers]

there was a few things forgot to tell you. When he was very active a few days ago he ate like crazy and kept burrowing small tunels but, He never actualy completly submerged himself. I was reading that most hermit crabs start to dig like crazy before they completly submerg for molt.

And about the humidity problem I think i will buy some of that moss from vickie and see if that helps my humidity. And how would a fogger work for crabs? I was just woundering because maybie in the future i might look into one.