[WizKidsMom]

Jenne,

I'll try to answer your questions.
First, that crab kit is of plastic. It will not help keep heat & humidity in. I started with a 10 gallon tank. It works well. You do have to get a lid for it. (that's the way stores make more money - but you can choose the lid that works for you.)

May I suggest a lid with part that is plexiglass and the other an access lid. On top of the plexi side you should have a light. A combo that has at least two sockets so you can have daylight & moonlight. And it is best you get one that has two separate switches. The hermies need a day & night cycle.

Baths - You can give them a salt water bath now. It is most important when you get additional hermies, as then they all 'smell' the same. As for mites, some petshops are not as clean as they should be and they possibly can have mites. I, personally, have not had a problem.

Substrate - I think you are trying to remember Argonite sand. You can also use EccoEarth or similar which is a coconut fiber substrate. It comes in a compressed brick and all you need to do is soak it in a bucket of salt water. Once it decompresses, just use your hand to squeeze out the excess water and place it in the tank. You want the substrate to be twice in depth of the largest shell. For some reason - some sands do give off an odor.

Distilled bottle water has been used by crabbers. Watch the brand/label as it has been known (at least in my area) that bottlers just use tap water. Be aware that bottled water can become expensive.

A great tank cleaner is vinegar. It rinses clean and does not harm the hermies. Since I use EccoEarth, I do a deep clean about once a year. Take out the substrate, clean the tank then put in fresh. I do a surface clean more often, taking out stray food, cleaning the water pools and giving fresh moss.

Some people have a hands off approach. Others take their hermies out periodically. It may take a while for the hermies to get use to you. They hide inside their shell. Enticing them with a yummy treat does bring them out. It is up to you.