I set up a hermit crab habitat about a month and a half ago. It's a 20 gallon terrarium. I put white reptile sand as the majority of the substrate mixed with some coconut fiber (one of those expandable bricks.) I put in extra shells, a climbing stick with a platform at the top, a ceramic hollow log (it looks like a thick tunnel with several openings) and some fake plants. I also put 2 large reptile bowls, one with drinking water and the other with salt water (de-chlorinated with special hermit crab solutions and special salt for them.)
I got 3 crabs initially and then one of them started to lose limb by limb and about a week later it died. Before it got sick, I noticed that the tank had a really musty smell. Its not a really nasty smell like mold or wet rag or anything like that, but it just smells bad. I cleaned the tank, replaced the coconut fiber and spot cleaned the sand while mixing it around but it still smells. I also clean the food and water bowls once a week. I went back to the pet store and asked them why it would smell bad but I'm not sure the girl knew what she was talking about.
I've also had a big problem with the humidity levels. The top of the tank has a mesh covering and what I did was cover most of it with a towel and leave one end open for ventilation. In the open end I put a lamp with a black light as the heat source. I only leave it on for a few hours at a time. When I did this the humidity levels were good.
I stopped using the towel because that is when I noticed the smell developed. I'm afraid to get a glass top because I think that if it is enclosed completely the smell might get worse. I created a homemade humidifier and its helped keep the humidity up but I still can't get rid of the smell.
Also one of the other crabs completely dug itself up today and I am not sure if it is molting or not because it hasn't been very active, and I read that they eat and drink a lot before they molt. I switched him to another tank just to be sure and set it up similar to the other one.
Oh and I feed them the flake mix for crabs found at the store and occasionally make them salads with lettuce and carrots or fruit. I also mist the tank regularly with de-chlorinated water (every day or every other day depending on the humidity levels.)
Sorry its so long, just trying to give as much info as possible... I'm so lost! I've read up on the most information that I have been able to find, but its hard the get the right answers... please help?!
I got 3 crabs initially and then one of them started to lose limb by limb and about a week later it died. Before it got sick, I noticed that the tank had a really musty smell. Its not a really nasty smell like mold or wet rag or anything like that, but it just smells bad. I cleaned the tank, replaced the coconut fiber and spot cleaned the sand while mixing it around but it still smells. I also clean the food and water bowls once a week. I went back to the pet store and asked them why it would smell bad but I'm not sure the girl knew what she was talking about.
I've also had a big problem with the humidity levels. The top of the tank has a mesh covering and what I did was cover most of it with a towel and leave one end open for ventilation. In the open end I put a lamp with a black light as the heat source. I only leave it on for a few hours at a time. When I did this the humidity levels were good.
I stopped using the towel because that is when I noticed the smell developed. I'm afraid to get a glass top because I think that if it is enclosed completely the smell might get worse. I created a homemade humidifier and its helped keep the humidity up but I still can't get rid of the smell.
Also one of the other crabs completely dug itself up today and I am not sure if it is molting or not because it hasn't been very active, and I read that they eat and drink a lot before they molt. I switched him to another tank just to be sure and set it up similar to the other one.
Oh and I feed them the flake mix for crabs found at the store and occasionally make them salads with lettuce and carrots or fruit. I also mist the tank regularly with de-chlorinated water (every day or every other day depending on the humidity levels.)
Sorry its so long, just trying to give as much info as possible... I'm so lost! I've read up on the most information that I have been able to find, but its hard the get the right answers... please help?!