Crabitats for Newbies

[Wai]

If you are a new crabber, post any questions you have about setting up your hermit crab tank, after going through the Crab Care section.

[Jodi]

Hello, i have read through the care section (starting to see double) and found some incredible information that of course the pet store did not tell me. I still have some questions that seem very basic but i cant find answers too.
I have a 2ft glass tank and I live in qld. I have 3 med crabs.
I was using my 2ft aquarium light but have bought a UVB 10.0 reptile one bulb, is this right?
I am also using aquarium stones/gravel in the tank. is this ok or should i go and buy play sand from a hardware store? how often would the sand need replacing?
Should i always have food out for them or have "feeding time"?
do I need to have a sponge in both the salt and plain water containers (treated of course)?
Is it true that i can put a piece of fresh bamboo in the tank for them to eat and play? does it matter the type of bamboo?
Any link to the best kind of plants to put into the tank would be appreciated. Hope you can help, I am in love with them and want to get this right.
Jodi

[Wai]

Sorry for the late reply!

I was using my 2ft aquarium light but have bought a UVB 10.0 reptile one bulb, is this right?

I would suggest replacing it with Exo Terra's Night Glo bulb. Heat sources should not emit bright light during night time, because hermit crabs need a day and night cycle.

I am also using aquarium stones/gravel in the tank. is this ok or should i go and buy play sand from a hardware store? how often would the sand need replacing?

Any substrate that does not support moulting is not ideal. Gravel is coarse and will scratch the soft bodies of freshly moulted hermit crabs; therefore it is not ideal. Smooth sand on the other hand, is moulter-friendly. You should replace or bake and wash the sand perhaps once a year. I'm not sure how frequently other crabbers here replace or clean their substrate, but I clean mine about once a year. The depth of the substrate should be at least double the height of your largest hermit crab.

Should i always have food out for them or have "feeding time"?

Hermit crabs are poikilothermic organisms ("cold-blooded"), so they have a much lower metabolism rate than "warm-blooded" organisms. Since their metabolism rate is low, it is literally impossible to overfeed them, so food should always be available in the tank.

do I need to have a sponge in both the salt and plain water containers (treated of course)?

I don't recommend sponges, because they provide great homes for harmful bacteria. Pet stores still use sponges, because they rely on info that is almost a decade old.

Is it true that i can put a piece of fresh bamboo in the tank for them to eat and play? does it matter the type of bamboo?

I've never heard of that one, but some bamboo species should not be placed in the tank. There are safer alternatives such as cholla and mopani wood.

Any link to the best kind of plants to put into the tank would be appreciated.

You can try growing the following plants: http://www.hermitcrabparadise.com/crabc ... aments.php, although the other Crab Crew are probably more knowledgeable on nutrition requirements than I am.

[Jodi]

I just want to say thank you for answering my questions. I now have a tank with sand and some very happy crabs. One is changing shells almost daily and they are all running around and hanging and climbing. I wanted to ask about the light you suggested. Should this be on 24hrs a day and is it ok to have it on top of the glass lid, do they still get the benefit through the glass? The little guys also seem to empty (sometimes tip) their water bowls out daily. Is it ok for the sand to get this wet? thanks again, Jodi

[hawtiebazil]

Hi i have read the crab care about 3 times and i am still stuck on this
I want to put some sticks and branchs for them to play on in the tank but i don't know what type so is any other these ok. Eucalyptus, apple tree and bottle brush are any of them safe???
I am a very big on making stuff myself so is there any toys i can make them myself for them to play in i am allergic to coconut milk so it is hard to my the coconut house but is there something else i could use to make them????
also can i grow sprouts in the cornor of the tank????
also i need you to answer my question in the selecting section please

thank you so much
bye

[CrabbyJo]

As for selecting your hermit crabs, you should really wait until your tank is set up and you have the humidity and temperature nice and stable, along with all the items you need for their tank.

As to your choices of wood, Eucalyptus is definitely a No, it is a conifer and is an irritant to hermies.

Apple tree is a safe one.

Here is a website that lists safe and unsafe foods, as well as the different food groups you should feed your crabs to make sure they are healthy: http://hermitcrabcuisine.com/
I suggest bookmarking this first page, as once you get into the site, there aren't links back to the first pages (I have not found any).

Here is a list of safe and unsafe woods (not complete):http://www.epicurean-hermit.com/index.php?topic=10.0

I have read elsewhere that Apple has been found to be safe.

Even though you are allergic to coconut milk, that should not prevent you from being able to put a cocohut in your tank for your crabs to hide in. It's not like you'll be eating it!

Do get it all set up before you get the crabs, or you could end up losing them as fast as you get them

[ladybug15057]

Bookmarking Hermit crab Cuisine is a good idea for future references too. But in the upper right corner of the site one will notice the word 'main' in a black box. If one clicks it, it will take you back to the main start page.
A little reminder, if one does take items from outside to use in their tank and they are on the safe list, please also make sure that there has not been any pesticides/insecticides used in that area. (or fertilizers, and remember run off from the rains too)

[JamesW]

Thanks For This,
It suits me just fine.
JamesW

[jacevy]

Hello.

Just wondering if the tank can be too big for the crabs?
I have a 40 gallon tank.
Would only having 3 crabs be ok?

[CrabbyJo]

Lucky crabs! I don't think a tank could ever be TOO big for the crabs, as they can travel a mile or two in a day in the wild!
But for you, you may have a hard time finding them to watch them in a tank that size, but I am sure they would love it. Lots of room, and no territory disputes!