(Part 2) Top products from r/hermitcrabs

OK, Im just going to list a bunch of stuff I've purchased through this process. Nothing is in any particular order.

Almond leaves (for tannin) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LKTX4VC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Moss - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0035Q65TQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cholla Wood - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H4FUMHY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dried red Shrimp (Protein and Chitin) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027JCRVW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Instant Ocean (1/3cup per Gallon) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000255NKA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ultrasonic Mister/Fogger (for DIY Fogger) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PAK21WU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Digital Temp Humidity Controller - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I6BZ2IO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

LED White/Blue Light - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191EWII2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

UTH (You may need to get a different size and this isn't the most recommended, but it works for me currently) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TR4HLEI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (This one has adhesive on the back of it, so you just stick it on like a sticker.)

Cork Bark Board - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019J1VPY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s04?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Water Conditioner - https://www.amazon.com/Seachem-116043304-Prime-500ml/dp/B00025694O

If you have any questions, please feel free. To mitigate confusion I felt just listing this as a reference first is the best approach. If you are looking for a new tank so that you can get friends, i would suggest 30 or more gallons and work towards that instead of investing into the current tank which would get changed.

Personally with the 5 i have i clearly see they need much more room than the 15 gallon they have now. I am in the process of acquiring an 85-120 gallon tank for permanency. These guys can live 20+ years with the proper care and environment. but not everyone has that freedom. 30 is a totally doable size for 3 crabs. they can grow to jumbos and be fine in there, but im sure if they reach that stage you'll be looking for another tank. Jumbos need at least 12" of substrate for molting.

For a 75gallon get one of these (Eco Earth):
http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Compressed-Coconut-Substrate/dp/B0010OSIHW
The two bricks should be enough and mix in with the sand real good. It'll help keep the humidity up and it's more like their natural environment. Make sure sand is sand-castle consistency. Not too dray or they won't be able to dig tunnels and not too wet that water pools end up on the bottom.

Read the stickied posts on top of the "topics" area and ask questions if you need more info here:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=26

Also - check out the shells from this seller on Etsy. I noticed the spiky one you have in the corner. They like "Turbo" shells much better. You'll be amazed how fast they switch in these shells (links below) and never use the one like you have showing again - see links below. Depending on the size of your crabs you'll need to figure out which ones you need.

A little smaller:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/163508909/multipack-2-25-tapestry-turbo-shell?ref=shop_home_active_2

A little larger:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/163509545/multipack-15-2-tapestry-turbo-shell?ref=shop_home_active_12

I'd go with the larger ones probably as they'll wear them if they're too big and will always grow into them fairly quickly anyways.

Good luck!

This is a common myth that hermit crabs NEED to submerge to drink/fill their shell/clean. They drink with their small claw, dipping it in the water and lifting it to their mouth. They don't fill their shell underwater -- they suck water in through their setae (tiny hairs) and this allows them to slowly add the water to their abdomen, maintaining their preferred PH. Filling underwater would mess up their PH, so they likely have a way to seal off their shell if they do decide to go under. It's possible a saltwater pool could help with mites, but they do fine with their smaller inner claws removing dirt and grooming themselves (you can see them if you look into their shell at the right angle). Also some species in the wild don't even have access to saltwater. So they don't need pools, but some crabs do like to submerge as long as the water quality is good. Spizam71 goes into a lot more detail about this on my post.

I set up some pools myself before I learned they don't need them. If you'd like to go ahead with it anyway I used two of these tupperwares, they're 4"x4"x2.25". Took me a while to find tupperware deep and big enough for them without taking up too much space (I have a 10 gal). They're a bit pricy though, and if you have more space I'd probly get something a bit bigger. For entry/exit you can get some craft mesh and set it up however you want, I just cut it to size and hot-glued it to the sides. Not the best method for easy cleaning though, I've seen others make a little tee-pee and drape it over the side. You can get some small rocks/gravel and put them in the bottom. A sea sponge is good in the saltwater pool for maintaining water quality and allowing them to crawl out, same goes for live java moss and/or duck weed in the freshwater (duckweed needs natural light, java moss doesn't). If the water quality isn't to their liking, they're a lot less likely to submerge (from this video). Completely change the water out once a week.

Overall they don't need pools, just access to freshwater and saltwater (even then they could probably get their saltwater from food). It is something for them to do though, so it could be beneficial for their happiness. Maybe that's why people recommend it.

With the thermal insulation, get something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BPAULS (Doesn't necessarily have to be that exact one -- Promise, I'm not a shill for the company! ;) ) Get a little crafty and you can cut and origami it with duct tape to fit the back of your tank and part of the sides (and whatever else you need) perfectly.

Best substrate is generally 5:1 play sand to eco earth -- looks like you have a lot of eco earth in there. This makes it more difficult for crabs to make tunnels and molt appropriately, but others have kept crabs just fine with only eco earth so YMMV.

Rocks in the bottom of the dishes aren't necessary if you have ramps. I have a 2.5 gallon pool with only a ramp and the crabs are just fine! They live near the ocean and deep pools -- they can spend easily half an hour underwater and aren't going to drown out of stupidity :)

I'd recommend filling the big open space with a little more in the way of hidey holes or stuff for climbing. I really like strawgrass reptile hammocks/lizard loungers, which can be rolled up into all sorts of shapes and huts and things for hermit crab adventures!

Like others have said, stop misting! Get a glass top if you don't already have one, and with the bubblers your humidity should be fine. Misting will cause bacterial blooms, water pooling, and all sorts of problems (I ruined my first tank setup within a couple weeks because of it...).

Everything else looks good to me!

I don't think hermits would enjoy the hamster disk. You might want to get a thermometer + hygrometer with some automation (like this one), so e.g. your heating system will turn on and off without manual intervention.

Otherwise, your list looks fantastic! A tip: you can also weave the hemp cord around pieces of driftwood or other things to make it easier for your crabs to climb on.

edit: Oh! Of course, don't forget shells!

For my setup, I’ve used The Tetra Whisper Air Pump (link at botton). You put a check valve (see 2nd link) on the end of the tube attached to the pump. On the other side of the tube you put the air stone (also in 2nd link). Th air stone goes in the water and “bubbles”, thats why we call it a “bubbler”. It has dual benefits in that it is the most effective way to humidify your tank and the movement in the water keeps it fresh for longer.


https://www.amazon.com/Tetra-Whisper-Easy-Aquariums-Non-UL/dp/B0009YJ4N6/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=bubbler+pump&qid=1565723778&s=gateway&sr=8-3


https://www.amazon.com/Pawfly-Standard-Aquarium-Accessories-Connectors/dp/B07FZY71K6/ref=pd_aw_fbt_199_img_3/137-2577294-4867509?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07FZY71K6&pd_rd_r=1974bd54-ba73-425a-96f4-b27b02ebbe2f&pd_rd_w=7mVYj&pd_rd_wg=b8F1Q&pf_rd_p=3ecc74bd-d08f-44bd-96f3-d0c2b89f563a&pf_rd_r=VNHBEDMXVJNSW6SHZ0M4&psc=1&refRID=VNHBEDMXVJNSW6SHZ0M4

As Spizam said, there seems to be a sweet spot, and if I keep my humidity below 85% the glass is always clear. I also have this small computer fan suspended inside my tank with suction cups and fishing line, which gives the crabs a slight breeze and also helps with glass fogging and keeping mold growth on my wood parts inhibited.

Insulate the tank and you should be fine. I have my 30g insulated with reflectix and it manages to hold around 80 F very well even in my super cold (low 60s) room.

Putting a towel over the tank helps too in the meantime, that brought my 10g setup from 75 to the low 80s right away.

I've made acrylic shelves in glass fish tanks before.

Make sure you're using the right type of silicone. Something like Aqueon. Regular silicone caulk won't cut it.

Aqueon Silicone Aquarium Sealant (10.3 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002ASD34/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tWgoDbPE8BVVB

Also, be VERY careful about wedging the shelf in. Even a little outward pressure combined with some vibration and you can end up with a cracked tank.

Thank you! I got it off amazon, i saw it recommended on a few different threads & it does give very accurate readings! Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/Flukers-Digital-Thermometer-Hygrometer-Reptiles/dp/B0009YJWW4/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=hygrometer+and+thermometer+reptile&pd_rd_r=dc115e19-8d6d-483d-bf66-deae0ceee0eb&pd_rd_w=9ce11&pd_rd_wg=0q5MQ&pf_rd_p=67c9d84c-d98a-4415-a549-dd3360e9d207&pf_rd_r=98P2SG8ZGD7H5P5B0PBJ&qid=1568476524&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Pretty easy i use a water gun like this one, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OOZZTI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_I75SBb7PA3DTD to suck all of the old water out

I have an Ultratherm under tank heater mounted on the side of my tank for heat. The flexible heater is covered in styrofoam insulation from Home Depot. In addition, I have a red 60W lamp in a hood over the top. Together, these two provide enough heat for a 30 gallon (30"x12"x18") tank.

For humidity, I have a reptifogger.

I control both temp and humidity with ZooMed's Hygrotherm.

It's kind of pricey, but it allows me to go away for a week without having to worry about humidity.