Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2011 8:08:40 GMT -5
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CRABBING
I've been keeping hermit crabs for around 3 years now (I don't remember exactly when I started, but I know for a fact it's been at least 3 years).
TANKS
My main tank is a 55gallon. There's plenty of room and hides to accommodate more crabs.
I also have a couple of 10 gallons that take me less than 10 minutes to set up for ISO when needed.
LID TYPE
I have a plexi glass lid with enough holes to allow proper air flow.
SUBSTRATE USED
5:1 Sand:Eco Earth mixture.
It's sand castle consistency - initially mixed with ocean grade salt water.
HUMIDITY SOURCE
I have bubblers in both of my pools and I also have a couple of moss pits.
It's more than enough to keep a stable humidity in my tank.
HEAT SOURCE
My room is naturally warm so I don't really need a heat source.
I do keep a UTH on the side of the tank with the pools to help keep a decent water temperature (I've noticed my crabs submerge more when the water's warm).
If my room starts to cool off, I have a small space heater I plug it and it does the trick.
My temperature has never dropped below 72F.
HOW DO YOU TREAT YOUR WATER
I don't have to treat my water.
We have very good well water. We have a guy come out and check it every 6 months and let us know if anything has changed (ie. if any chemicals have found their way into our water).
It is safe for the crabs and I have never had a problem with it.
HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR SALT WATER
I follow the directions on my Instant Ocean box.
My pools each hold a gallon and are both filtered. I empty them and put in clean water as needed.
HOW MANY CRABS DO YOU HAVE,WHAT SIZES ARE THEY & HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD THEM
I currently have 6 crabs - my largest is just a bit smaller than a baseball.
My most recent one has been with me for about a year now.
WHAT SPECIES OF CRABS DO YOU HAVE
Currently I have 4 PPs and 2 Es.
Adding a couple of Ruggies to the mix within the next few days.
WHAT DO YOU FEED YOUR CRABS
Fresh foods.
Foods I dehydrate.
Foods I order from people/companies I trust with crab nutrition.
Everything's organic & crab safe.
WHAT TYPES OF HIDES/CLIMBS DO YOU HAVE
I have all sorts of things. I do have some cocohuts, cholla wood, aquarium hides, homemade things - just all sorts of goodies that I change around from time to time.
DO YOU HAVE AN ISOLATION TANK FOR SICK/INJURED/MOLTING CRABS
I have a couple of 10 gallons I can set up if need be.
The only time I use them is if I have a surface molter (only happened once and he survived) or for some kind of infestation (hasn't happened yet, but better to be prepared than caught off guard).
I do not keep these set up and running unless I need to.
HOW MANY EXTRA SHELLS AND WHAT SIZES DO YOU HAVE
I have a giant bucket full of extra shells of all sizes.
Periodically I take the current shells out of the tat and replace them all. There are a few favorites that go from crab to crab that I keep in the tank all the time.
WHAT SIZE CRABS DO YOU PREFER TO ADOPT
I'll take any size.
I have a variety of sizes now and have never had a problem.
I also have a big enough variety of shells to accommodate for any size crab I happen to take in.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE US TO KNOW
I'd rather not drive more than an hour away.
If it's farther than that, I may be able to meet you half way. It really just depends on what's going on in life at the time.
My Crabitat
These pictures are of the setup I just had - I'm in the middle of making/adding new things and will update these pictures with the new setup once it's finished.
I've been keeping hermit crabs for around 3 years now (I don't remember exactly when I started, but I know for a fact it's been at least 3 years).
TANKS
My main tank is a 55gallon. There's plenty of room and hides to accommodate more crabs.
I also have a couple of 10 gallons that take me less than 10 minutes to set up for ISO when needed.
LID TYPE
I have a plexi glass lid with enough holes to allow proper air flow.
SUBSTRATE USED
5:1 Sand:Eco Earth mixture.
It's sand castle consistency - initially mixed with ocean grade salt water.
HUMIDITY SOURCE
I have bubblers in both of my pools and I also have a couple of moss pits.
It's more than enough to keep a stable humidity in my tank.
HEAT SOURCE
My room is naturally warm so I don't really need a heat source.
I do keep a UTH on the side of the tank with the pools to help keep a decent water temperature (I've noticed my crabs submerge more when the water's warm).
If my room starts to cool off, I have a small space heater I plug it and it does the trick.
My temperature has never dropped below 72F.
HOW DO YOU TREAT YOUR WATER
I don't have to treat my water.
We have very good well water. We have a guy come out and check it every 6 months and let us know if anything has changed (ie. if any chemicals have found their way into our water).
It is safe for the crabs and I have never had a problem with it.
HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR SALT WATER
I follow the directions on my Instant Ocean box.
My pools each hold a gallon and are both filtered. I empty them and put in clean water as needed.
HOW MANY CRABS DO YOU HAVE,WHAT SIZES ARE THEY & HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD THEM
I currently have 6 crabs - my largest is just a bit smaller than a baseball.
My most recent one has been with me for about a year now.
WHAT SPECIES OF CRABS DO YOU HAVE
Currently I have 4 PPs and 2 Es.
Adding a couple of Ruggies to the mix within the next few days.
WHAT DO YOU FEED YOUR CRABS
Fresh foods.
Foods I dehydrate.
Foods I order from people/companies I trust with crab nutrition.
Everything's organic & crab safe.
WHAT TYPES OF HIDES/CLIMBS DO YOU HAVE
I have all sorts of things. I do have some cocohuts, cholla wood, aquarium hides, homemade things - just all sorts of goodies that I change around from time to time.
DO YOU HAVE AN ISOLATION TANK FOR SICK/INJURED/MOLTING CRABS
I have a couple of 10 gallons I can set up if need be.
The only time I use them is if I have a surface molter (only happened once and he survived) or for some kind of infestation (hasn't happened yet, but better to be prepared than caught off guard).
I do not keep these set up and running unless I need to.
HOW MANY EXTRA SHELLS AND WHAT SIZES DO YOU HAVE
I have a giant bucket full of extra shells of all sizes.
Periodically I take the current shells out of the tat and replace them all. There are a few favorites that go from crab to crab that I keep in the tank all the time.
WHAT SIZE CRABS DO YOU PREFER TO ADOPT
I'll take any size.
I have a variety of sizes now and have never had a problem.
I also have a big enough variety of shells to accommodate for any size crab I happen to take in.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE US TO KNOW
I'd rather not drive more than an hour away.
If it's farther than that, I may be able to meet you half way. It really just depends on what's going on in life at the time.
My Crabitat
These pictures are of the setup I just had - I'm in the middle of making/adding new things and will update these pictures with the new setup once it's finished.