A few questions from a newbie

[Nan05]

Hi crabbers,

I've just joined this forum. I got my first crab about two months ago and my second about one month ago. I lost the first one during a molt and I think I've lost or am losing the second one too. I got crab number three a few days ago and have him in the iso while I see whether number 2 is dead or just hardening. I'm really trying to give them perfect conditions, but I'm making mistakes along the way and unfortunately it's costing my poor hermies their lives. Did all of you lose some crabs in the beginning?

Anyway, I have a couple of general questions for you experienced crabbers:

1. LIGHTS. I am about to purchase lights, mostly because I need a little more warmth than my UTH is providing. Also, I think my UTH heats the substrate above it too much while not heating the air enough. So my question is should I get a fixture for a single 15 watt moon glow bulb, or a double one to accommodate a daylight bulb too? Which daylight bulb is recommended?

2. RHEOSTAT. I'm considering getting a rheostat to regulate conditions. Right now I check conditions once an hour or so, but that's not sustainable forever. Eventually I'll go back to work. Can rheostats regulate both a lamp and a UTH? Can a water dish over the UTH be trusted to keep the humidity good all day while one is at work?

3. TWO QUESTIONS ABOUT SUBSTRATE. When a crab does pass, is it necessary to steralize the substrate before reintroducing healthy crabs back into the tank? Also, when using EE, is it possible to remove the crab poops? This was easy when I was using sand because the poops were clearly visible, but I can't imagine how I would find them in the Eco Earth.

Thanks very much for any responses. - Nancy

Thank you.

[hermie 5]

!st, yes I did lose crabs at the beginning, and it's not always your fault. Sometimes crabs have come from really poor conditions and just moving them is enough to put them over. Try buying them from a different store. I have had better luck with Petcos than I have with Petsmarts. Don't beat yourself up!!!

1. I have only the light on the hood of the tank. I replaced the bulb with a tropical bulb for more heat, but I don't think that the light gives off too much heat. I don't feel much when I put my hand under it. I use a lamp with a heat bulb (it does not have any light) you can buy these with the reptile supplies. I aim it at the sand and it has kept my tank at about 76 degrees. I also have a UTH but it is only on one side of the tank so that they can choose what side to bury.

2. I do not have a rheostat, but I have sand that I have mixed with declorinated water. My sand is about 5-7 inches deep covering the entire tank, along with my 2 bowls of water. My humidity stays between 70-75.

3. I have only lost 1 crab since I moved them into this new home, he happened to die on wood chips, so I scooped up a bit of the wood under him. I knew I was loosing him so he didn't lay ther long. Over about half of my tank I have wood and I have never removed the poop (who could see it). Mine seem to go into the water dish to clean themselves. Every morning there is a bunch in the dish (hermie litter box). Maybe your substate is not holding enough humidity?

I am not an expert by any means, I am fairly new at this too. I have had crabs for a year, and 2 successful molts. Keep reading up on different sites to get a well rounded opinion on what works best.

[Hermie's rule]

Here's some advice.
1. First I use about a 60 watt regular household lighting bulb. I use one fixture for both the day and night bulbs and switch them back and forth. If you want though, you can get a double fixture. Depends on how much you want to spend on things.
2. I'd expect that a rheostat could handle both lights and UTH but I'm not positive. I'd do a little research to find out.

3. Yes you can see the crab poops if you've fairly good eyesight. I do it all the time. Hope that helps.

[WizKidsMom]

Crabs need about 12 hours of day light. If your tank is in a place that does not get much light, then get a dayglo bulb. The moon glo and day glo (at least in my experience) does give off some heat which helps keep the air temp warm. The wattage of the bulb is the trick. I started with a 25 Watt and it did the job. I have a triple light fixture with separate switches for each bulb, but only use two right now. Keep in mind that everything depends on your home and where you have the tank.
What kind of top/lid do you have on the tank? You may want to have something that keeps the humidity and heat inside but with the ability to open it slightly to adjust the temp.

As for the EE substrate - you really can't find the poop. I do a surface cleaning - food mainly. Also about every 6 months or so, I do a deep clean and trash the old EE and put in fresh. This also gives me the opportunity to rearrange the tank.

As for the humidity - use a mister/spray bottle with dechlorinated water to mist the top of the substrate and if you have any climbing stuff - vines, moss, etc you can spray those. Some people use a bubbler in the water to put the extra humidity in the tank - or a water fall created with a water filter.

[Hildegarde]

Of my 1st six crabs, only one is left. Not knowing any better I bought them from a business that mails them. I got them in January from a person who lives in New England, second day delivery and of course in painted shells. So how many of you experienced crabbers are horrified?

Now I buy from a place with excellent conditions and I haven't lost a crab yet

[Nan05]

My first one was an adoption from a family that had been given a crab and didn't want him. My other three (one deceased so far) have come from Petco. They look pretty happy there and they are very active their first few days home, but I did notice that they have only about an inch and a half of substrate and there are way too many crabs for the space, and no extra shells. It guess not having enough substrate to bury themselves would make them seem more active, but also it must be easier for a pet store to keep temp and humidity really consistent.

[dgh_1984]

I baught my first 5 crabs from Petco and one died within the first few days. One is burried and the other three are doing great. I have a plexiglass lid that seems to keep in humidity and sometimes is gets too high and I have to open it a little. I also have a UTH, but I haven't had to use it yet. My tank it facing a window so they get good light. I am a newbie also and I think that it takes a lot of research and trial and error to keep and properly take care of a new pet.