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Post by tinymaze on Feb 26, 2014 16:06:52 GMT
hi there I'm Tinymaze  , I've decided to get some hermit crabs as i lost my leopard gecko last week  and now i wanted something different and new. so I've been doing my homework on little hermies and I'm getting excited! but being the responsible person I think I should be lol, I'm making sure it's the right set up and care before I order some from my local reptile shop. so I've got a 25-30ishgal tank with 3 extra shelfs and a lid like this one (it's easier to show you then describe)  2 hides, lots of climbing wood (driftwood) and a large plastic aquarium plant and some other bit's and pieces. so being the i want now person that i am, I walked the dog down the beach today and hunted out a selection of shells and I was able to get some cuttle fish (which I give to my tortoises too) it's so Handy to have the beach so close it offers lot's of free stuff and it's all natural. so any way I got home and boiled it all up to sterilize it and the old stuff i mentioned above too. and on friday my pay day i'm popping down the shop to pick up some sand and eco earth/coconut fiber stuff, and two water bowls/bathing bowls and a humidity gage, I already got a temperature one oh and a mister spray. anything else i might need? I'm a little confused on where to put my heat mat? I've attached it to the side just above where the sand will sit but could this harm them if they get too close or climb on it? I was thinking of getting 4 would that be a good idea? the guy said there be about 3inches, Well thanks for reading and any other info would be greatly received  |
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Post by Rachel on Feb 26, 2014 17:06:43 GMT
Welcome to the forum Tinymaze!
It is brilliant you are doing research and I am glad to hear it. I am also sorry to hear about your gecko. 
One thing I will say is these little guys can live decades so if everything goes well be prepared to have them a long time! 
Can I ask how much depth you have below the first shelf and how long/wide the tank is? Hermit crabs need a lot of substrate (several inches) for moulting/burrowing and will grow a lot so depending on how many you want you may find yourself needing an upgrade fairly fast. The shelves are fantastic to have but you do need to bear in mind ease of maintenance, if the bottom is going to make it so it messes with the substrate or space for dishes etc it might be worth looking at a different option. You might struggle with the humidity using a tank with a mesh lid so I'd get things running before getting the crabs, covering it with a sheet of Perspex or even clingfilm as a temporary measure will make a difference. Check it is secure as well since they can push VERY well and are escape artists.
Spare shells from the beach are always good, do you know what species (whelks etc) you have? Some crabs can be quite fussy about shell opening types but you won't get to know individual crab personalities until they are with you so they always keep you guessing! Natural cuttlefish is fab, my lot have always shown preference for it and the recent storms definitely make it easier to find.
Sand wise, don't get reptile sand go for playsand. Argos carry it all year around as do some other stores, it is far better prices and some reptile brands can be unsafe for the crabbies alongside costing 3x as much.  Coir bricks are perfect for mixing in, try and stick to the plain ones not the type with big lumps of bark type stuff in.
Water bowls need to be deep enough for the biggest crabs to fill their shells so you may be better off going down the food container tub route or even ceramic/glass dishes or bakeware from poundland. Again they work out cheaper and while not as au natural in look are great as long as escape routes are provided (this applies with any dishes). Pebbles, aquarium plants and plastic mesh like gutter guard are some good choices for that used in various combinations.
For the gauges go for digital, the round "dial" type are wildly inaccurate most of the time and we've had some issues lately with crabbers accidentally flooding substrate due to overspraying when the gauge read wrong! These might be cheaper from places like Homebase that sell the household ones so it is worth shopping around, you are probably familiar with the added £ reptile branded stuff often has.
Back wall of the tank on the outside is exactly right, if its underneath the heat gets trapped by the substrate, dries it out and can crack the glass while doing sweet nothing for ambient temperatures. If you are worried and have a spare thermostat you can hook it up with the probe between the mat and tank on one side but unless you have a hugely powerful mat everything should be a ok. Just remember not to spray water onto the warm glass. You may find you need to back the mat with insulation to reflect the heat back in rather than heat the room around.
Four is a good number to go for, I am guessing they are Coenobita clypeatus (purple pinchers)?
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Post by tinymaze on Feb 26, 2014 19:14:31 GMT
Thanks for the reply and I'm no stranger for life long commitments lol, i have two tortoises that are only 7 (got them when they were a few months old) so got another 90 odd years yet (well in the end my kids will ) yes there be the purple pincher ones, i just measured the first shelf it's 5 inches from floor up and the tanks itself is 24inches, so probably in 8 months to a year i need a upgrade? the shells i got are mainly whelks and a few common slipper shells. Thanks about the Argos sand tip, I was going to ESK but i think they have there sand outside so Argos will be better to use. Another Question can you over feed a hermie? and also do they need a light? where there be is pretty bright room. |
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Post by Rachel on Feb 27, 2014 4:43:18 GMT
Depth depends on the crab size, usually we say a minimum of 6 1/2 - 7 inches is best or 3x the height of your largest crab to allow decent space between moult caves and general safe burrowing. A three inch crab could be legspan, shell, height or a vague estimate so it is hard to say for sure. Whelks may be taken by them but slipper limpets are not really wearable in nature, they are great for in water dishes or as decor though. Usually PPs will go for round shaped openings such as Turbos and magpies so you may need to get some still if they are not keen on the whelks. Worth waiting til you can check what opening size is needed if you are not sure, getting the wrong size is a common issue for crabbers. You can't overfeed them really but if you put in loads some will get wasted, keep it in small amounts of varied foods and it'll be fine. Light wise they need a light cycle to replicate day and night, a normal room should give this so a light isn't vital but a UV tube (not the compacts) for a few hours a day can be beneficial. |
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and now i wanted something different and new. 
