how do i prevent my substrate in my hermit crab tank from getting too moist?

Question

i use a soil-like substrate and i dont want to get mites
i mist my crab every day and all this water builds up at the bottom

Answer 1

The soil like substance will cause both bacteria, and mold not even to mention the mites... the only approved "soil-like" substrate is 100% coco-fiber anything else you risk terrible bacterial infections and other molting complications.

One should Never mist INSIDE of the tank... if it is so wet in there then there is no need to mist. Unfortuantly this senerio is a recipe of distaster if you continue keeping the hermit crab in this condition. There should never be standing water in the tank like that unless it is their water pool waters.

One needs a aquarium glass type tank with a good solid lid.. lights too. Clean play sand is the sand of choice these days with areas of Moist coco-fiber... then you buy one bag of calci-sand or hermie sand and offer it in a small dish.. the only thing calci-sand is good for is calcium SO the better thing to do is leave a chunk of cuttlebone in the tank.. or grind it up and sprinkle it over his food. More sources of calcium are egg shells. ground oyster shells and shrimp skins/exos.

One should use the sand dry and allow the crabs to wet the sand to their liking.. other wise you will run into the too wet problem again resulting in mildew, mold, bacteria and mites.

Hermit Crabs breathe through modified gills.. and need a warm and humid environment to breathe.. therefor it must be warm and humid.. warmth from the lights and humid from the moist coco-fiber and water pools... which you must have 2.. one with fresh de-chlorinated water and the other with oceanic/marine de-chlorinated water.. both dishes must be deep enough for the largest crab to fully sumerse himself in the water.... rocks or shells can be used for ways to climb in and out.. often our crabs will swim for a bit too. Sometimes even with larger pools of water the humidity is not quite high enough... then one can add a bubbler stone in one or both water pools and there you go.. perfect humidity.

Temperature must be between 76-85 degrees F and humidity must be between 75%-84% relative... the only way to know what your tank condtions are is to buy a temp and humidity gage and it is a must for proper hermit crab keeping.

Another item of thought... you mention a crab.. but no tank mates... in the wild crabs live in colonies of 100 and more so to keep just one is cruel....they never asked to be picked up off of their beach home and put into a pet store,,, the least we can do as pet owners is to do what is good for them.

Hermit crab will not and can not re-produce in captivity therefor each crab that we all own was "harvested" from their wild habitat taken against their will away from their colony to live their life with humans who may or may not know how to take proper care of them. They are not bred for commercial sale.. it is impossible.

Answer 2

When I had a hermit crab, I used a bottom layer of gravel and then sand and then calic-sand as the top layer. I added the water when I put in the gravel. After 20 minutes if the hydrometer indicated that there was too much moisture I would add more sand. I 'd watch the hydrometer carefully and if it started to drop below 60 I would add more water. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

get rid of crab no reason to keep it locked in cage its not cool how would you like it it is nature to get all that creeping crap in there gross! use palin gravel then once a week rinse it hit hot water a pain init? let him be in nature. put a sponge in a clam shell for water for it to drink.. a screen top for airyness

Answer 4

Mist your crabs outside of the tank with a simple hand held sprayer.

Answer 5

sorry, not a scientist, just a dog lover and owner, simple kinda chick u know? hermies belong in the pollluted water they came in. they probably look at u everyday and say one day we r gonna make a break for the sea! hope you dont live to far!!