How to Set up a Crabitat

Опубликовал Admin
1-10-2016, 22:35
1 538
0
Setting up a proper place for your hermit crabs is vital to their health. It'll take a little bit of work, but in the end you'll have healthy, happy hermits!

Steps

  1. Clean your aquarium with a gentle biodegradable cleaner, such as a vinegar and water mixture and soap water works well too.
  2. Mix coconut fiber with treated water, salt water works best.Helps prevent mold. Sand damp enough to built a sandcastle.
  3. Once the aquarium is dry, add your moist substrate (sand or coconut fiber). If you have a under-tank-heater, remember to attach it before the next step.
  4. Place your sanitized shells and other tank decorations in the tank.
  5. Mix ocean water mix (what's used for salt water aquariums) and dechlorinated water for one water bowl and put fresh dechlorinated water in the other bowl. Add the food dish (with food in it, of course).
  6. Place the thermometer and hygrometer on the substrate or on the wall of the aquarium close to the substrate where your hermit crabs will be living.
  7. Then place a hiding spot for your crabs.
  8. Put the lid on the aquarium and turn on your heat light (if applicable.)
  9. When the temperature and the humidity are acceptable in the tank, put your hermit crabs into their new home.
  10. Enjoy watching your hermit crabs explore! And don't forget to spray your crabs with mist everyday for humidity!

Tips

  • Always make sure to have at least three extra shells for each crab, one around the same size as their current shell, one a little larger, and one a little smaller.
  • Stable temperature and humidity is extremely important, please have these levels stable before bringing hermit crabs home.
  • The humidity should be around 75-85% relative humidity.
  • The temperature in the crabitat should be between 70–80 °F (21–27 °C).
  • Humidity should be set at 75 - 80%.
  • A solid top, like glass or plastic, is best to retain heat and humidity.
  • For sand you can use play sand from a hardware store. Make sure that it is play sand and not sand for construction and such.
  • You can find coconut fiber in pet stores in the reptile care section.
  • Hermit crabs love salt water so put a salt and fresh water dish in the tank.
  • Change the food and water every 2 days.
  • Remember to get more than two hermit crabs.
  • Hermit Carbs can get lonely and this can cause them to get stressed and die so make sure you get multiple hermit crabs.

Warnings

  • Some heat lamps may have too strong of a light for your crab
  • When cleaning your aquarium, remember that harsh chemicals like bleach, some soaps, and glass cleaner can make your hermit crabs ill.
  • Don't make the crabitat too hot, if you do your hermit crabs can die, and you will know if they die from overheating by a strong smell and a brown liquid under your dead crab.
  • Don't over mist your crabitat or it can grow mold which is harmful to the little hermies.
  • Never use tap water for preparing your substrate, or drinking/bathing water. Treat it with a dechlorination solution or use bottled spring water or distilled water.

Things You'll Need

  • +Aquarium
  • +Thermometer
  • +Hydrometer
  • +Substrate (coconut fiber, sand or other)
  • +Food dish
  • +Two water dishes
  • +Fake plants, hermie hut, ceramic pots, driftwood, and other items to decorate your crabitat with
  • +Heat Source
  • +Toys for your hermit crab to play with
  • +Sand NOT rocks
  • +salt water
  • +hermie food
Теги:
Information
Users of Guests are not allowed to comment this publication.