What climbey things do you use?

[Donna M]

I was pricing the heavy aquarium plants and fake coral in the pet store, and they are just too expensive. What else can I use? I like to change things up so the little fellas don't get too bored.

I thought of a short piece of thick, heavy rope, but have no idea how I would anchor it up at the top of the tank. Most of the "driftwood" in the pet store is not only expensive, but very smooth in texture and I don't see how a crab would be able to hold on while climbing.

C'mon, I'm sure some of you have come up with some creative ideas to help keep the costs down! Time to share! (LOL)

Thanks,

Donna M.

[alli'smommy]

I use nets (from the craft section at Walmart-soak it in boiling salt water), cholla wood (from the petstore) and grapevine wood (also from the pet store). I also use the aquarium stuff that I had leftover from the fish aquariums I used to have. You can use the bendy vines in the reptile section too, but they are kinda pricey! And you can use ivy vines to dress stuff up a little!!

[Donna M]

Thanks, Alli's Mom, for the ideas. The netting is a good one. How do you attach it to the tank? And in reference to the wood sold in the pet stores, it all looks so smooth. They really can hang on to it?

Do you think I can use artificial plant vines sold in the floral section at craft stores? Some have a strong plastic smell. Do you think that could hurt the crabs?

Thanks for your input!

Donna M.

[krackersmom2]

Netting can be attached with suction cups. You can find "locking" plastic suction cups at Wal Mart in the "hardware" section.

[LSHermies]

I used some rock from my old fish tank. Cholla wood, hemp nets, those fake vines and plants from petsmart...they were not too bad priced there.
Not sure about strong smelling fake plants...I would use stuff that is meant to go in a fish tank...jic

[alli'smommy]

I use suction cups to attach the net. Also, I use the ivy vines from the floral dept at Walmart--never noticed a smell though. If it smelled very strong, I probably wouldn't use it--IDK, just my opinion though! The wood I buy at the pet store isn't really smooth, so idk about that either!!

[WizKidsMom]

I saw a picture of a tat (in one of the forums I frequent) using a reptile ramp from the ground floor to a second level.

Suction cups with no metal on it works.

[Hermie's rule]

By the way, you know a great place to get suction cups??? Dollar Tree or Dollar General. I got 50 of them for a dollar. They've great prices. Also, Vicki's store is full of greatly priced climbey things and nets. Also, hermit crabs can hang on smooth driftwood. Mine do. Driftwood? That's great to get at a beach you can bring back seaweed and everything for the crabs. Be sure you sterilize it in dechlorinated water first though. Hope that helps.

[dbolack]

Originally Posted by Donna M

I was pricing the heavy aquarium plants and fake coral in the pet store, and they are just too expensive. What else can I use? I like to change things up so the little fellas don't get too bored.

We use net, grapevine, Choya (Elmers Aquarium in PGH had some really nice, big, knobby choya, not like the stuff that looks like a small loofa.), plastic canvas (VERY CHEAP), and artificial plants and vines ( which as a seasonal product are easy to get on clearance. We also have some Mopani wood I have put in yet and live rock we've not used in a while.

[alli'smommy]

Originally Posted by WizKidsMom

Suction cups with no metal on it works.

YES!! Thanks for mentioning that! I forgot! Definately make sure that the suction cups are metal-free! If you have some with the metal hooks, just remove the hooks!!