Keeping hermies warm through the night.

crazeecrabber103 · 11-19-2005, 01:24 PM

The nights have been getting cooler here,and so are my crabs!The crabitat was a disgustingly low 69 degrees F this morning!The UTH was plugged in and I had wrapped the tank up in blankets,but it still didn't help.If you have any pointers on how to keep the temperature in the tank steady through the night,please feel free to share.

kuplakrabs · 11-19-2005, 03:39 PM

There are a few options for you, but I am curious about a few things.

What size tank do you have?
What type of substrate do you use? Is it moist or dry?
How deep is the substrate over your UTH?
What type of lid do you have?
Do you have any trouble keeping the humidity level stable?
Is the tank positioned next to an "inside" wall in your home and away from drafts? (like an air conditioning vent, etc.

Maybe I can give you better choices based on the answers to the Q's

gweebles · 11-19-2005, 04:44 PM

A regular heating pad makes a good emergency heater, placed against the back wall of the tank. I had to do that last cool front. Just make sure it is not on too high.

crazeecrabber103 · 11-20-2005, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kuplakrabs:
There are a few options for you, but I am curious about a few things.

What size tank do you have?
What type of substrate do you use? Is it moist or dry?
How deep is the substrate over your UTH?
What type of lid do you have?
Do you have any trouble keeping the humidity level stable?
Is the tank positioned next to an "inside" wall in your home and away from drafts? (like an air conditioning vent, etc.

Maybe I can give you better choices based on the answers to the Q's

I have a 10 gallon tank with moist FB.The substrate over the UTH is about an inch deep,a little thicker and a little thinner in some spots.I use a glass lid.
The humidity stays has been pretty stable recently,about 78-82%,even through the night.
I have a very small room so I can't really keep the hermies too far away from the vents or anything,I don't really have a choice.But since I've had my hermies,my mom doesn't keep the AC on for so long.She used to keep it on for hours at a time but now she just turns it on for about 15 minutes to let the house cool down.It doesn't really affect the temperature in the crabitat though.
I use a 15 watt day bulb(the moonglow ones are all burnt out) during the day and it keeps the temp at about 76-78 degrees F.But of course I can't keep the light on all night,so that's when the temp drops.

I hope those answers were thorough enough.

moire_eel · 11-20-2005, 08:25 PM

It sounds like you just need a new moonglow bulb to use when your daytime bulb is off.

tb1234 · 11-21-2005, 03:17 PM

I second the heating pad idea. I've had mine attatched to my big tank since I set it up. Hate to see my elec. bill this next round though.

crazeecrabber103 · 11-22-2005, 08:57 PM

Is it really safe to keep it on all night?And wouldn't it dry it out too much?

Wait,I meant the moonlight glow bulb.Sorry if I confused anyone.

So is the bulb designed to stay on all night...?I mean I guess that's why it's a night bulb right?

Hermies_Rule · 11-23-2005, 10:12 AM

maybe you could try putting it in the warmest room in your house? Make sure there arent any windows open by the crabitat to let cool air in ( duh) and dont put it by AC vents in the ceiling ( if you have 'um) b/c that will cool it down. You could also ,maybe, warm up the towels before you wrap them around the tank. If you warm them up with water, it will be a pain though because every few hours they might get cold and then get dry. You could find something else to warm up the blankets maybe! Hope this helps

Good luck w/ your crabbies!

Hermies_Rule · 11-23-2005, 10:24 AM

oh sry i didnt read about the vents and your tank etc. we have a thermostat to put the temperature on whatever we want it to feel like ( my dad likes it cold, though..) anyway, maybe with all those vents in your room you should consider having a different room for your crab temporarily until the cold weather goes away.

Good Luck!

gweebles · 11-23-2005, 05:12 PM

I use my heating pad all night and it doesn't hurt anything, I do use a surge protector though. I have to at this house, old wiring, but it doesn't hurt anything and it doesn't get too hot for the hermies. Just use the low setting.

11-19-2005, 01:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
crazeecrabber103 (Small Crab) Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: California Posts: 341	The nights have been getting cooler here,and so are my crabs!The crabitat was a disgustingly low 69 degrees F this morning!The UTH was plugged in and I had wrapped the tank up in blankets,but it still didn't help.If you have any pointers on how to keep the temperature in the tank steady through the night,please feel free to share. __________________ Care to see a picture or 50? http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/crazeecrabber103/

11-19-2005, 03:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
kuplakrabs "Second Molt, A Success" Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Western NY Posts: 500	There are a few options for you, but I am curious about a few things. What size tank do you have? What type of substrate do you use? Is it moist or dry? How deep is the substrate over your UTH? What type of lid do you have? Do you have any trouble keeping the humidity level stable? Is the tank positioned next to an "inside" wall in your home and away from drafts? (like an air conditioning vent, etc. Maybe I can give you better choices based on the answers to the Q's __________________ Wendy *~Kindness and patience reap greater rewards than rigid intolerance.~*

11-20-2005, 08:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
moire_eel "Second Molt, A Success" Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 524	It sounds like you just need a new moonglow bulb to use when your daytime bulb is off. __________________ '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' http://decapods.net

11-21-2005, 03:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
tb1234 (Micro Crab) Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: WA State (eastern half) Posts: 96	I second the heating pad idea. I've had mine attatched to my big tank since I set it up. Hate to see my elec. bill this next round though. __________________ Hermie lover since June 05. Krabby Patty-PP June 19, 05 Mr. Krabs-PP a couple weeks later. Mrs. Hermit-PP Nov 3, 05 All three molted successfully from Nov thru Jan! My crablog http://tiarnna.blogspot.com/

11-22-2005, 08:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
crazeecrabber103 (Small Crab) Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: California Posts: 341	Is it really safe to keep it on all night?And wouldn't it dry it out too much? Wait,I meant the moonlight glow bulb.Sorry if I confused anyone. So is the bulb designed to stay on all night...?I mean I guess that's why it's a night bulb right? __________________ Care to see a picture or 50? http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/crazeecrabber103/

11-19-2005, 04:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
gweebles "Preparing For First Molt" Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 130	A regular heating pad makes a good emergency heater, placed against the back wall of the tank. I had to do that last cool front. Just make sure it is not on too high.

11-23-2005, 10:12 AM	#8 (permalink)
Hermies_Rule "Never Molted" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 46	maybe you could try putting it in the warmest room in your house? Make sure there arent any windows open by the crabitat to let cool air in ( duh) and dont put it by AC vents in the ceiling ( if you have 'um) b/c that will cool it down. You could also ,maybe, warm up the towels before you wrap them around the tank. If you warm them up with water, it will be a pain though because every few hours they might get cold and then get dry. You could find something else to warm up the blankets maybe! Hope this helps Good luck w/ your crabbies! __________________ -Lauren

11-23-2005, 10:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
Hermies_Rule "Never Molted" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 46	oh sry i didnt read about the vents and your tank etc. we have a thermostat to put the temperature on whatever we want it to feel like ( my dad likes it cold, though..) anyway, maybe with all those vents in your room you should consider having a different room for your crab temporarily until the cold weather goes away. Good Luck! __________________ -Lauren

11-23-2005, 05:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
gweebles "Preparing For First Molt" Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 130	I use my heating pad all night and it doesn't hurt anything, I do use a surge protector though. I have to at this house, old wiring, but it doesn't hurt anything and it doesn't get too hot for the hermies. Just use the low setting.

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