How to Build a Hermit Crab Tank Topper | By Crab Central Station
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- This video will show you "How to Build a Hermit Crab Tank Topper!" Hermit Crab Tanks can be so much fun to design, and adding a topper will give your hermit crab the vertical climbing space s/he craves! We have over 700 gallons of tank for our hermit crabs to explore and this video will teach you exactly how we created three very unique toppers. Here is a basic breakdown of what we cover in this video:
* Base tank vs topper
* What kind of tank to use for a topper
* How to attach items to your topper
* Creative ideas on decorating three different toppers
* What you need to attach a topper to your base tank
* How to attach the topper to the base tank
* Special hack on how to hang items in your base tank or topper!
Used in this video:
100% Silicone
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Box Bush Background
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Cork Flat
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Cork Wood
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Cholla Wood
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CoCo Hut
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I have recently inherited 3 hermit crabs that were poorly housed. After bendge watching about every video you've made, and probably $500 (I lost count) in supplies, I now have 3 happy hermit crabs. I live at 9700 feet above sea level and find maintaining the constant living conditions can be a challenge. Thank you for all you work and study and especially for sharing what you know. I have already detoured people from purchasing hermits crabs by telling them about the abuse and how much money you have to invest to maintain them. Keep up your hard work as you supported 100% by me.
Sarena
Hello Sarena! We are so so so happy to have you with us in the channel! It sounds like you are doing AMAZING work with your new inherited hermit crabs and we are so glad we were able to help along that journey! Great advocacy work as well! It is animal lovers like you who are helping to save the hermies! If you ever have any questions we would be happy to answer them here, via email, or on Instagram DMs!
Happy crabbing!
I love how you decorate your tanks to create an environment as close to the hermit crabs original environment as possible. So lifelike 😁🐚
Thank you so much!
Thank you for having this channel! I've learned a lot from your videos & glad to know there are more crab peeps out there.
Thank you so much for watching and supporting us! #CCSCrabCrew
What great timing - I’ve been laying in bed with a stomach bug for 3 days mentally planning a topper for my 40 gallon breeder 😅
Oh man! I'm sorry you're not feeling well. We sure hope you get better soon. We agree, though, if you must be in bed..... dream up crazy cool crab things!
Me too
Uh oh! I'm sorry! Get well soon!
I'm new to your channel and love it! So much helpful information and ideas. We have had our purple pinchers for 11 years (I got them for my grandson when he was 4). I am wanting to redesign their enclosure with a topper and filtered water pools. In the beginning I had tried to use silk flowers in the tank only to discover that they tried to eat them and shredded them. So we stuck with plastic and real plants (though the real ones were quickly eaten). I have tried using wheat grass (the kind you sprout for cats to eat) in the tank, but have not had it sprout in the tank. I have put it in little pots, but they will dig it up. So I sprout the grass, then put it in the enclosure every now and then as a treat. I like the wood wall for climbing. Your tanks are so beautiful. If I were a hermit crab, I would want to live there!
Awe! Thank you!!! Congratulations on 11 years! That is amazing! The wood wall is their favorite!!!! I highly recommend! Welcome to CCS, we’re glad you have joined us on your journey!
Hey!! I can’t wait to decorate my tank and add a tank topper… thanks for the knowledge and inspiration ☺️
Awesome! So glad we could inspire you!
How do I attach the topper to my base tank
Wow! Thanks for sharing this with us!
You are very welcome! Thank you for watching!
You are soooo creative!!! I am not whatsoever lol 😂 thanks for this!!
Thank you! Most people that know me would say the same thing. I am naturally creative. I hope videos like this can inspire others though!
I'm so excited I'm building my second tank with a second topper. A 40 gallon breader with a 18x18x18 exo terra topper. I only have two crabs but I want them to have plenty of room. I've had them for 3 years and they have grown a lot too so I feel like the 20 gallon long is too small for their happiness.
Ended our spending $50 on hermit crab from the carnival and now after stumbling upon your videos I now want to build a whole crabitat tryna buy a whole 100 gallon tank or something huge put all kinds of terrain. Damn you…. But really thank you for informing me about these poor crabs. I’m hoping these guys are healthy I’m trying to have some 50 yr old crabs
Same
Can you put the foliage against the heating pads?
17:36 HAHAHHA HELPPPP😂😂😂😂 GOLD
I might be adding one soon!
Do it!!!! Your crabs will love you for it!
Great ideas beautiful 🤩
Thank you for your support!
What size exo terra would you recommend to cover half of a 75 gallon?
Hi! My family and I LOVE your channel. Thank you for being such a great resource, advocate and for being so family friendly!
I do have a question about backgrounds, does the cork exoterra or the spray foam background you made in another video block heat if used in the main base tank?
Thank you so much! We are a family creating content for families and I am so excited that your family is enjoying our content! The spray foam background will effect heat some, but not enough to be ineffective. If you live in a really cold area, you may want to include insulation to help keep the heat in.
Your the best youtuber ever
Awe! Thank you! You're the best! 🥰
The tank I was gonna use to make a topper is 4-5 inches wider than my original tank could I use plexus glass to create a shelf inside do you think that would work? Thank you for all your inspiration
We did just that in one of our early tanks, only we used glass instead of plexiglass. It worked great.
What size exoterras do I need to cover 2 sides of a 55 gallon tank? I want 2 of them if possible.
YAY A NEW VIDEO!!
Thanks for watching! #CCSCrabCrew
Do you seal the tiny space between the two doors of the terrarium when they are closed? If so, with what so you can still open and close those doors for tank access? Heat and humidity seem to be escaping from my terrarium. Thanks!
We do not seal the doors. The heat and humidity are great!
What heat mats do you guys use? I didn’t see any listed in the description
We ❤️ Bean Farm heat mats!
Thank you!! I’ll have to try them out!
Sometimes they have sizes that are sold out… but keep checking back because they usually restock often.
God bless you!
Thank you!
I want to add a 36in tall topper to my 40 gal breeder. It seems so large and heavy. Is their a way to secure the larger tank
We built our own stands out of 2x4's that were built to offer a substantial amount of support. I would suggest doing that.
love your toppers and your channel overall is amazing and useful. really helped me with my tank build ! I always recommend this channel to people who don't know much about their hermits. with that being said, I'm curious if you have any recommendations for bridges from the coconuts I noticed mine started getting white fuzz(mold) right away I took them out.
Thank you! We are so glad you are finding our content helpful! You can try soaking your bridges/ladders in prime treated salt water and then letting them dry, that has helped ours. Also, how wet is your substrate? How high is you humidity? It could be that those two things are the culprit.
Okay, So just clean the bridges with prime treated salt water routinely? My tank humidity and temperature seem okay, I always try to monitor both as they have actually dropped since were preparing for winter in OH. The humidity ranges from 74-80% and the temperature is at 80°F. I use the mixture of eco earth and playsand ratio. I got rid of the bridges as this quickly happened when I set everything up now I've had my tank going for alittle over 6 months. I thought it was actually the kind of wood, none of my other decor has shown molding, I use cholla and Cork bark with no issue
Those are safe levels for heat and humidity. Change in seasons can cause fluctuations.
How do you run tabbing and wires through if you have topper the same size as bottom tank?
We use an expanding foam insulation in between the two tanks. Where I run the wires/tubing out I just cut an opening in the foam.
@@CrabCentralStation ok that's what I was thinking thank you. Do you have to heat both top and bottom or does the one heat mat work for the larger space?
We have a heat mat on our topper (a smaller size - covers about half the back). However, because we live in central Texas, we don’t have to use the topper heat mats very often. But, it’s nearly impossible to add them after you set up the tanks, so we add them during set up just in case we ever need the extra heat. If you live anywhere it gets cold, I would highly suggest installing a heat mat on the topper.
Does the heat mat on the back of the topper need to fit the whole height and length of it? I have the 18x36 terrarium
It is best to have a heat mat as close to the length of the tank as you can get it. It will stabilize faster.
This is amazing. I'd love to do this eventually when my crabs are ready to be upgraded to a 75 gallon! I never would have come up with it myself. Is there a risk of the crabs falling and injuring themselves?
My hermit crab is surface molting. I put a cup of with air holes over him so he doesn’t get harmed by my other crab. It’s been three days since he shedded his exoskeleton but I don’t know when to let him out.
Hey there,
So I have a 55 Gallon aquarium tank and I'm having a horrible time finding a topper tank that is front opening exo Terra or any other for that matter to fit my tank due to it's small width. 🥺 48 l x 12 w x 18d . My question is do I need to start from scratch and get another base tank ? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated ❤️
Unfortunately I have not seen any exoterra type tanks with the 12” width. If you’re really wanting a topper, I would recommend sizing up your base tank. You and your crabs will not regret it!
Does all the decor that you silicone to the back block any of the heat? I just want to make sure it won't cause to much of a barrier.
Should tanks be fully enclosed or should I poke holes on top to allow air in ?
How do you move hermit crab tanks, if your not supposed to hold or pick the hermits up?
You only want to move the tank if you are moving homes or upgrading to a bigger tank. If you are upgrading, you want to wait for the crabs to come up in their own. If you have to move houses and there are crabs still down on move day - you will have to dig them up , very carefully.
This could not be better timing! I’ve started working on a topper recently. This is a wonderful resource. Thank you for sharing this information. With the foam, does the topper become permanent? Would the topper be able to be taken off later on to expand or renovate?
Great! We are so glad this is helpful to you! Thanks for watching! The topper is removable. The foam is only adhesive on one side. The weight of the tank along with the duct tape is what secures it in place.
Hello. You are doing a great job of explaining on how to add a topper, however, if you can demonstrate it would be even better for those who are Visual Learners. Thank you. I know you may say, "I'm not doing that." But it would be helpful.
Thank you for the feedback. We filmed A TON of footage while we build the tank but somehow that footage was corrupt, unfortunately. I'm sorry about that!
How long did it take your hermit crabs to realize that there was a topper
Please respond if I have a 75 gallon and want a topper to fit from edge to middle bar what size exo terra would I need?
The extra large will work great!
What width and thickness should the foam weather stripping be?
Do you have a basic hermit crab tank setup for a 20gal?
We don’t…. But that is a great suggestion we can add to our list! Thanks for watching!
Ohh I'd also like a 20 gal basic set up! 😊
Just found your channel and it's amazing 👏. I'm curious how did you remove the glass bottom on the exo terra to make it a topper?
We just flipped it upside down 😊
new Hermit owner for about 1 month. I want to know how you keep the heat with the boxwood panels and bark flats on back of tank since that's where the heaters are
The heat mats actually heat up the objects in the tank which in turn heat up the air.
Hello. CAn you give us an update on the baby crabs...its been a long time with no news or videos on the little ones and we are dien here.
Absolutely! We have 35 babies on land! We will be adopting them out this July!!! They are doing great, growing and so active!
@@CrabCentralStation Ok. Im a kid now, show us a video, show us a video. Now, imagine a 53 year old woman jumping up and down. LOL. xoxo
😄😆🥰😘 we will be making the adoption announcement in May.... probably in a "Live" here on RUclips. We will have a live baby cam during the video.
Is it safe to put the full background up against the heat mats?
Yea
ty my hermit crab has been very sick and strest this help a lot they are happy now.(▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿)
The heating pad you showed in the video is an infrared heat mat. Is that what you prefer? I searched for the Komoda brand and they only seem to come with a UK plug. I have 2 large heating pads stuck to the back of my tank and it struggles in winter. I need to blanket y tank at night. Any suggestions?
Bean farm is a great brand of infrared heat pads. They have lots of size options at a reasonable price.
Is the moss that's sitting in their huts real moss?
Yes, it is real moss.
@Crab Central Station so can I get some out of my back yard and put it in their with them?
Hello again from Indonesia! Could you please kindly help me, do we need to spray hermit crab with water every day?
No spraying. Here is a video to help explain...
ruclips.net/video/mxhfy7-jGd8/видео.html
Is there anyway to make one with a ten gallon tank on top of a 40 gallon tank? Or do I have to buy a new lid for it or cut the lid I have to fit
Not easily.... a 10 gallon is 12" deep and a 40 gallon is 18" deep. They won't line up.
Hey! Love your videos. Could you make a video about hermit crab health checks? Such as what illnesses they can get, symtoms, mites, mokt fat sacs, etc? I am curious what to look for when doing an actual quick crab health check since they are a more handsoff pet. I have learned so much about these guys but no one talks about their actual health, illnesses, and diseases that they could get (or not het because I dont know really anything about their physical health.)
Great idea! We will definitely add that to our video idea board! Thanks for sharing 🥰
@@CrabCentralStation Yay! Thank you so much! You guys are great! I wish there were more people like you.
Someone eneded up messaging me about hermit crab shells after seeing a post I made about my hermit crabs. Turns out these people got their hermit crab from the fair and had it living in a half gallon garbage bin, with fresh water, and lettuce for food. No extra shells or anything! They said with COVID they had not been able to get out and get anything for him.
Long story short I worked to obtain a glass 10 gallon aquarium and then I gave them food dish, instant ocean, extra shells, coco hut, shower caddy, eco earth bricks, playsand, oak leaves, millet, and any other dried foods I could spare! I gave it to them for free because they were willing to care for the crab they just did not know how.
They ended up setting the tank up and sending me pictures, and it looks awesome! The crab has moist eco earth and sand, salt water pool, fresh water pool, lots of food, hiding space, and some things to climb.
Their crab changed out of its painted shell, and its now living a better life.
Also I told them how to care for him and I gave them websites to go to if they need help.
@@gracegracelynne7602 you are awesome! I'm so glad he is in better conditions! It makes me sad to know how many are being abused because of lack of information
How did you treat the items inside of your tank to prevent mold growing?
We soak our wood/rope/twine/leaves and such in prime treated salt water for 24 hours and then we let completely dry or bake them on the lowest temp. the oven goes until dry (Keep a close eye on the items as this is a fire hazard!).
Is the weather stripping a half an inch wide and a half an inch thick?
Yes, that is what we used.
@@CrabCentralStation Thank you!
My terrarium is a 40 gallon. I am interested in adding a topper that matches the same dimensions, however my tank does not have the middle brace. Do you have any suggestions as to how I could add a topper, or how I could create a brace, or if I should just wait to purchase a terrarium with a brace? Thank you!
Exoterra makes a tank that fits perfectly on a 40 gallon tank! Just invert the exoterra, line it up with the base tank…. Use the doors for front access to the tank.
@@CrabCentralStation Thank you!
Happy to help!
I want to do a pond great stuff background but I’m worried that the crabs would pluck it out
Good question. We do have another video on how to build a topper with great stuff foam. Our crabs did eventually pick at it some.... not bad though. They didn't seem to eat it though, all the little pieces where on the sub. You can always re- seal the background if they do start to pick on it. You would just remove the topper, re-seal, let it cure for several days, then place the topper back on.
Cool vid! I'm encountering some difficulties with my pet hermit crabs, and any feedback/help/advice is well appreciated. I've had them for about 4 months, and changed their setup about 1.5 months ago (larger tank, sand and eco earth as substrate, etc). I was starting to suspect that my hydrometer and thermometer were off, so I ordered a new one. On the new one, the humidity read 98 PERCENT! The minute I saw that reading, I cracked the lid open to increase ventilation, and since then (a few weeks ago), the humidity regularly reads 79-85%. The temp has leveled out too. I'm worried however, because I have not seen either of my crabs for over a month. I know they molt, but knowing the humidity was so high for so long has me worried that they were trying to escape the humidity, and might have passed under the sub. But I have not noticed a fishy smell from the tank, and I continue to put in dry food. Any ideas? I'm hoping that with the temp and humidity leveled out that the crabs would come up to the surface, but there's no evidence that they have done that. :( Hoping you see this.
Sounds like you have things under control now - good thinking! They may be molting, which often takes more then a month. Trust the process and give them some time. Good job stabilizing the tank!
Hi! I've been searching everywhereee for the plant name that u have in ur tank topper at 8:13 😩 please tell me what they are called
We don't have any natural plants in our tanks right now. we did at one time but the crabs destroy them.
I do have a question that I need help with, what is the glue or epoxy resin that they use to make the daycore that you can use for your hermit crabs? I would like to know please.
I think youre refering to the 100% silicone without mold inhibitors. 100% silicone is safe for hermit crabs! Hopefully that helps😊
Thank you, @Shayle Witch! Yes, you should use 100% silicone with no mold inhibitors. There is a link in the description of this video.
@@CrabCentralStation are you saying to use that to make the homemade rock/ fake plant daycore for my hermit crabs?
Ohhhhh, no, no. That is the only way to adhere anything in your tank. To actually create decore you can use resin.
@@CrabCentralStation Oh ok, now I understand now and thank you very much. I am having trouble trying to find videos on how to make resin fish tank daycore
hello first of all great video! second: i’ve been wondering if someone who does not live in texas could adopt your captive bred baby crabs. recently one of my crabs killed my second one during a molt and i had 2 crabs so i can’t keep one my himself. The surviving one is current molting right now so i don’t need buddies for him at this second but i don’t want to buy any from pet stores. thank you!
Oh no! I am so sorry for your loss! If you go to the LHCOS FB group, they can help find someone near you that can adopt your CB baby.
@@CrabCentralStation thank you so much! i will definitely be looking on there right away 😊
Hey totally off topic but please help me. Basically my cousin had 2 hermit crabs from North Carolina last summer and they are so weak and unsocial and scared of everything. They have painted shells on and a lot of their claws and legs are missing. I feel really sick about it and everything in their tank is painted and toxic. Ones eye is missing. Will that grow back??? Please help I am so upset
Edit: my bad I was scared, but the question I was trying to ask is will my hermit crabs eye grow back????
Hello! I assume these crabs are now in your care! I’m glad you are hoping to help them! Sometimes a Hermits eye will regrow after a few molts but not always! We have a one eyes friend that we rescued once, and he has never regrown his eye! The hermit crabs will adapt none the less.
The hermit crabs are likely VERY stressed. I would recommend the PPDS method (check out a video about this on our channel) and starry there. Once you have completed the method, move them into a tank with LOTS of high protein foods and deep substrate.
If you would like, we can help you more if you DM us on Instagram!
@@CrabCentralStation thank you for this!
Just to lyk the adopt a hermit crab link isn't working at all. I need a friend for my blue hermit crab. I'm pretty sure it's a female due to her egg sacks she keeps leaving. 😪 I feel so bad. I haven't found any blues around me at all... she's about as big as a fifty cent piece so not too big but she's not small either. If you can repost the link that would be great!!!
lhcos.org/adoption-program-beta/
Hi Darcy! Would you be able to help me? I'm having problems trying to find a good working heat mat for the hermits and all the reviews I look up for all the mats say that they don't work that they don't go up to the temperature that it's supposed to or they have gotten so hot they started fires. Can you tell me what ones you use if they're reliable and actually heat up good and where you got them? Right now we have two smaller ones and they're not even lukewarm and my poor little Hermes are cold I need to get a good warm mat ASAP.
Hello Lisa! We use bean farm heat mats on ALL of our tanks we love them because they come in a HUGE variety of sizes (make sure to get one that fits your tank well) and you can hook up a thermostat to it to regulate the temp. We have a video called heat and humidity on our channel that explains both of these things and provides links to the products in the description box. Check it out! I hope this helps :)
@@CrabCentralStation Thank you so much Darcy!!❤️
My tank is about 29 gallons. How big of a heat mat should I get?
This one here.... 11 x 29
beanfarm.com/collections/heating/products/ultratherm-heat-pads-11-x-29-in?variant=24905301705
@@CrabCentralStation Can I send you a picture of the tank? It's not that long. My tank goes out in the front of it. I'm not sure what the shape is called. Maybe you'll know when you see it. I bought this tank a long time ago and forgot what size it was...I thought it was 29 gallon.
I'm just now starting a tank we got lucky because the pet store in town closed down so we where able to get are tanks free
Ductape, also known as MacGyver tape, if you have watched the old TV show MacGyver, you will understand the reference I am referring to.
LOL! Yes!
@@CrabCentralStation ok cool.
i use an exo tank for my hermit crabs and someone said it doesn't hold humidity but it did hold humidity and their very small like a size of an coin please check the vid i made
on my channel
If you are having to spray/mist the tank, then it is not holding humidity well (that doesn't mean it doesn't hold humidity at all). We use exoterra tanks as toppers so that our crabs can climb, but we cover the vents with tape so that humidity and air do not escape.
OMGosh, I just got 2 hermit crabs in florida, I love them so much more than I ever thought I could. They are small still. But I was wonder, is it normal that 1 of them is always burrowed down in the substrate and sleeping? The other one is very active and out and about all the time but she is always sleeping but at night I check on them and then I see her up hanging out with the other one! And they get along so well. Our active guy (beachball) is so protective of her, like he checks on her while she sleeps and he will go sleep right next to her and when I go look at them in their tank and he is off eating he will come run over to be by her side! But my question was is it normal for her to be sleeping so much buried down in the sand just enough that you can see the top of her shell???
Sometimes they will burrow because of stress because it helps them feel safe. As long as you give them enough places to hide and all the stuff they need it should stop.
@@HermitCrabCrew we just got them from a store about March 23rd. The typical cage with a bunch in there and we bought 2. We kept them in that plastic tank until we got home from Florida and I researched how to care for them and came upon your channel. I immediately went out and got a tank and sand and wood, moss, climbing sticks, a bunch of food that wasn't pellets, 2 pools of water, heating pad for tank, all the stuff you say. So they have only been in their new tank for about 2 weeks now. She immediately started burrowing and sleeping while he is very active. We leave them be and just watch through the tank. I am so mesmerized with how adorable and fun they are, and so dang cute. Never thought I would fall in love with crabs LOL. I am gathering more tanks to do a topper and give them more space as I could only get a 10 gallon for now
@@Spectre_VR Oh I didn't make these videos, sorry. I'm just somebody that saw you comment and thought I could help. One of my crabs was burrowing and doing the same thing but wasn't molting so I was concerned and asked Crab Central Station and they told me it was just because of stress and sure enough it was. I'm sure Crab Central Station will reply to your comment and help you out, as they always do.
@@HermitCrabCrew Ok, thank you girl! Your comment does make sense though as I am sure they have been stressed beyond imagination from that store they were in until we got them into a comfy cage, and she probably finally can get some rest and peace!
Good morning! Thank you, @ Hannah Chan, for helping a fellow crabber out! What a great community we have here at CCS! We appreciate you!
Theresa - Welcome to CCS and the wonderful "crabby" life! It sounds like you are on the right track and your crabbies are in great hands! Hannah was correct, I'm sure it is just stress related. It can take a good amount of time for our sweet crabs to heal and feel safe enough to become active. Just keep watching our care videos and continue providing what they need to thrive.
We're glad you are here! #CCSCrabCrew
TODAYS MY BIRTHDAY!
Happy Happy Birthday WARPATH1985! Wishing you the very best! 🎂
Wow, your toppers are incredible! This video is SO helpful and informative. Thank you for the instructions, details and hacks to make this the best possible, I adore your channel!!! ❤️
You are so welcome! I'm glad this video is helpful! Have fun creating!
Can’t wait to start my vertical space build. Thank you for all the helpful tips.
Yay! Have fun building!
Does the 10 gallons per crab rule apply to all sizes of crabs, or just the big ones? And if I add extra substrate in the base tank, can I add a topper in my 20 gallon tank and use it for 3 crabs (if I get a 10 gallon topper)? And if not, is there any way to allow the crabs to go freely between two tanks without getting a topper? I'm sorry if that's too many questions 😅 The reason why I need to know these things is because I want to adopt crabs, but in my area the person who needs to rehome the least amount of crabs needs to rehome 3, and it's not like I can only adopt 2 of them and leave the other one alone...
The 10 gallon per crab rule is based off of full grown crabs. Small crabs can be 2 gallons per crab and medium crabs can do 5 gallons. We just say 10 gallon per crab so that they are set for life because a lot of times folks don’t want to spend the money to upgrade them as they grow. Crabs grow faster than you may think.
I would love to post a picture of the tat that I put together for my hermies. Nothing had to be touched for five years! Just change food and water. Had isopods, shell shops, pool bubblers, moss pits, a hamster wheel. A coco condo that hid the access tower to the false bottom. It actually fit over tower to camouflage and keep the hermies out of the tower.
My hermies loved sleeping on top of the coco condo.
We are in the process of building a topper and new set up. Our Reptizoo version of the exoterras has a black finish on the bottom, so we can’t set our LED light on top as we normally would. How do you recommend securing a light inside the tank topper?
Could you make a video of how you put your tanks all together? I wanna know where you got all of the tanks and how to set them all up
All of our tanks are second hand from Facebook market. We hand made custom stands so they all stood at the same height. Toppers we have a video on :)
@@CrabCentralStation are you talking about this video? Because this doesn’t show or say how to actually attach the topper tank to the base tank. I had the same question.
I see so much wood in your tanks! How do you prevent mould growing on it.? Every time I put something that isn’t plastic or glass in the tanks, they get mouldy within a week or so.
I use a 10 gall reg tank for topper to me it is easy to clean and I just wipe the walls 2 time Daly to keep floods from happing
I want to add a 36 tall exotic Ter to my 40 gal breeder. Should I use 1in weather strip or 2 inch because it will be so much heavier
I think the 1” will be enough, but I don’t think you’ll have any issues if you want to use the 2”. Good luck on your build! Sounds pretty exciting!
Hi. How do you keep humidity from escaping from the front doors?
Hello, I used the link for the heat mat and purchased one but the one that came doesn’t have a sticky side to it to apply to the side. How do we mount it on the side?
You have a beautiful and gorgeous setup 😍👌❤ I love it. Excellent job 👏👍👌🙌😀 at making your giant setup
Thank you so much! We absolutely love it!
@@CrabCentralStation you are welcome very much 😀
Can you add a hut to a background using zip ties instead of silicone
I was listening to this while I was driving and the train sounds at the end played right as I was driving over train tracks and it gave me a heart attack 🤣🤣
Oh no!!! I'm so sorry! Thank you for watching 👀 I hope we inspired you!
@@CrabCentralStation It's all good! I had a really good laugh at myself after my heart started beating again! 🤣🤣 I also really enjoyed the video! Gave me some good ideas for what to do with my tax return! Also, do you know if it's safe to use aquarium sculpting foam in my crabitat? I was wanting to do some cool bridges out of their water tanks but I was also worried they might try to eat it... 🤔
Yes, great stuff foam and aquarium sculpting foam is safe, as long as you seal it with 100% silicone or grout/cement. They can pick at it over time but they do seem to eat it.
This was very helpful I’ve been trying to figure out the heck people decorate now I know silicone. Also how do you hang things from up top?
Also I have a question about my hermits. My mom gave our sons one of course it was in a horrible state she didn’t know the person who had it didn’t know how to take care of it. Fast forward we have 75 galleon tank for four Hermits. I got them iff marketplace from homes who didn’t want them and they all came from bad environments. So after the first day the little two hid in the sand and I haven’t seen them since. I’m assuming they are destresing but I need to put more sand in to help with heat. It keeps dropping to 75 at night and my guess is more sand and coco fiber would help. Do I need to wait to put it on for when I find the two? Or can I put it on while they are still buried? They buried themself so wel I don’t have a clue where they are. ( oh and it’s been a month since I got the two that have dated hidden)
Thanks for all the videos ❤️❤️ much love
Welcome to CCS! We are glad you are here on your hermie journey! You can safely add an inch of substrate per week. Just sprinkle it evenly over the surface rather than dumping it in one spot. As you smooth it out, do so as gently as possible so that you don't collapse molt caves/tunnels.
What do you use for lighting?
In my old tank, I removed the glass bottom then retrofitted it with plexiglass and left enough open space to fit a 5.0 UVB Reptisun Terrarium hood. I sealed then duct taped it all securely together to the frame which became a removable lid to the topper.
Can a Terrarium Hood w/5.0 UVB just be place on the type of topper you use? Or does the glass need to be removed? I really hope that I don't have to remove the glass.
I have a picture of my old tank, but do not know how to add it to my comment.
I made a big tank with a topper and my crabs love it! They go all they way from top to bottom and even go for a swim in the little half gallon tank inside on the top shelf. I'm still adding more stuff for them to climb around.
Awesome! It’s amazing how active they are when they have the space and right environment!
Omg!! I love your whole set up! But, where do you feed the hermit crabs? is there food in each tank? Great video btw!
Yes, I have food dishes in each tank. Plus, foraging items throughout the whole set-up
For the artificial plants.. any worry that the crabs will eat those? Safety concerns?
😢
Update on my comment on the mold video: From what behavior i’ve seen, my clawless vampire crab has used it’s front legs as a substitute for claws and can use them to feed itself. Thank goodness they’re able to find a way around the issue. I wonder if this is the same for hermits that lose both claws.
Very interesting! Hermit crabs, from my experience, can not do that. However, they can use their mouth parts to grab food. But it needs to be small, moist, easy to grab foods that don't need pinched off/cut.
PLEASE REPLY !!!!!!I have an exo terra 24long I also have a 90gtank 48long with beam in the middle. Is it okay if the exo terra goes a little bit past the beam?????
It should be alright! How far past the beam?
@@CrabCentralStation a good 7inches
Maybe a little less
I have just bought an exo terra tank to set up for my smaller crabs, so that they are safe from my larger/jumbo crab. Just wondering if i can use the background that came with it or do i ditch it and go with the leaf background like what is in your tank???
Love it! Quick question for a 60 gallon tank with a actually 20 gallon topper how many heating pads do I use
Love your channel! ❤
This is the best video this is all I’ve been looking
Yay! We're pretty excited about it too!
Hello :-) I love watching your videos. You have such amazing information on hermit crabs. My question is I see on your topper with the cholla wood that it looks like you have a pretty background with leaves attached to the back of the tank. If I want to attach a heater to the topper could I use a background cling on the back of the topper and put the heater on the top glass of the upside down Exo terra? Or would the heat not work sufficiently placed on the top instead of the back?
Great question. Since heat rises, I don’t think you will get enough heat to penetrate down in the tank. We have heat mats on the back of our tanks. Even the tanks with the backgrounds.
I love your channel, very informative and helpful. I watch the whole video and read all the comments and have one question… so when installing the topper do we remove the screen and place it upside down on to the bottom tank? Or do we cut the glass bottom and place it on the bottom tank?
I’m so glad our channel is helping you on your crabby journey! Yes, take the screen lid off and turn the tank upside down. Now you have a topper with easy access to the base tank! Best of luck with your upgrades!
What about using Great Stuff for the background? That would mean it wouldn't need a heat pad, right?
Update on crab situation: Still haven't found a friend for my E, but that's okay because he's just started on his third back to back molt because his leg got messed up after the first one. I"m thinking about getting this big 180 gallon tank, but can't set it up until after we renovate. It also has these filter things in the corners that I think would just waste space, but the guy with the tank doesn't want to remove them because it could scratch the glass. So, we'll see.
We do not put a heat mat behind our great stuff foam background. Some people do, though. Living in Texas, we just don't need the heat in a tank with that much insulation.
@@CrabCentralStation I was thinking the foam might keep the heat out of the tank since it's inside.
It won't keep the heat out. It won't heat it up either. It will just help keep what heat is in the tank.... in.
I noticed that all of your toppers were smaller than the base tanks that they sit on. Is it possible to use a top tank that is the same size as the base? Or would it cause issues? I have a 40 gallon exoterra that my crabs are in now but needing to do an upgrade because they are starting to get bigger and need more substrate than they currently can get because of the doors. I was thinking of getting a normal 40 gallon tank to be able to build up the substrate so they can dig deeper and then put the 40 gallon exoterra on top so they have optimal room to roam around. I just wasn't sure if them being the same size would work/be safe for them.
You can definitely have a topper the same size as the base tank. For me, it makes water maintenance easier if I don’t have to reach through the topper to clean or fill them.
Currently trying to make a topper like you have with an exo terra and I have encountered an issue. My exo terra has screen lid locks and I can’t get it to sit flush with the base tank. Any suggestions on how to remove the lid locking mechanisms or do they make an exo terra without them?
Hi Rich H, our toppers had those too. We just pulled them off. They are on there pretty good and it feels like your going to break something, but they do pop off.
Wait so we can use silicone to attach things to the walls? I have so much trouble getting thing to stick to the tank walls
Yes! Just make sure:
1. it is 100% silicone with no mold inhibitors (we have a link in our video)
2. it is not inside the tank with the hermit crabs while you are working on it
3. it is completely dry and cured before adding it to the tank
Love this!! Your crabitats are simply amazing!!
Thank you so much!
I’m planning on getting 2 crabs for a 10 gallon tank is this a good idea?
We suggest a 20 galling tank for 2 crab friends as they will ultimately grow large and need that much space. However, if they are smaller crabs, 2 can happily live in a 10 gallon until they outgrow it!
Hi, could you maybe list some safe (live) plants for hermit crabs?
Here is a great list
crabstreetjournal.org/?s=Safe+plants&submit=Search