To keep your hermit crabs healthy and happy, you should make sure their environment is at the right temperature and humidity. What if you can’t keep the environment stable? Your crabs will get weak and stressed, which will kill them. Hermit crabs are ectothermic creatures and must have a warmish and cooler side to their substrate. If the temperature in your crabitat often drops below 75F, you need a reliable and safe way to heat it up. No matter what kind of under-tank heater or other heating method you use, you MUST get a temperature control device like a thermostat or rheostat. See some examples at the bottom of this page.
Bringing home cute new hermit crabs? Setting up their tank is exciting but also requires some key decisions on lighting and heating. A common question many new owners have is does a hermit crab need a heat lamp? The short answer is no – heat lamps are not mandatory. However, hermit crabs do require warm temperatures to thrive This article will compare heat lamps vs heat pads, explore additional heating options, and offer tips on choosing the best method for your crabitat.
Do Hermit Crabs Require Heat Lamps?
Hermit crabs are used to warm, tropical climates in the wild. To replicate their natural environment your tank needs to maintain temperatures between 75-85°F. Suddenly being put in a cool tank will stress out and potentially sicken crabs.
While heat lamps are one option for warming a crab tank, they are not strictly necessary. Heat lamps tend to dry out tanks quickly, creating hot spots directly under the bulb. This can make it tricky to regulate an ideal consistent temperature.
Hermit crabs spend much of their time buried in substrate. Heat lamps only heat the air and surfaces, not 10+ inches down into the sand where crabs dig. For these reasons, heat mats or pads specifically designed for under tank use are a popular alternative.
Pros and Cons of Heat Lamps for Hermit Crabs
Here is a quick rundown of the main advantages and disadvantages of using a heat lamp to warm a hermit crab tank
Pros:
- Heats air and surfaces efficiently
- Allows you to watch crabs at night if using a red “nighttime” bulb
- Can be positioned to create a warm side and a cooler side
- Adjustable heights and wattages to control temperature
Cons:
- Can significantly dry out tank and lower humidity
- Creates intense hot spots right under bulb
- Less efficient at heating deep substrate
- Need to monitor temperatures carefully
- Bulb may need replacing every 6-12 months
Overall, heat lamps can work but require close monitoring of temperatures and humidity. Heat mats are simpler for beginners to regulate.
Are Heat Pads Better Than Lamps for Hermit Crabs?
Under tank heat mats or pads have become a popular heating method due to these benefits:
- Designed to adhere to the bottom or sides of a tank
- Efficiently warm substrate from bottom-up
- Maintain more stable, consistent temperatures
- Don’t dry out tank air like lamps
- Safe for 24/7 use with a thermostat
- Low profile and hidden from view
By warming substrate where crabs burrow, heat pads give them a cozy environment. They are also convenient since you can place probes and thermometers right on the pad to easily monitor temps. Just make sure to use a thermostat to prevent overheating.
The one downside is heat pads only heat the tank bottom, so you may need to supplement with a low-wattage overhead heat bulb if temperatures are still too cool, especially at night. But for many keepers, an under tank heater alone sufficiently warms their crabitat.
Other Heating Options for Hermit Crab Tanks
Here are a few other options owners use to maintain toasty warm temperatures for their pet hermit crabs:
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Ceramic heat emitters – These screw-in bulbs produce heat but no light, great for nighttime. Use with a thermostat.
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Space heaters – Small space heaters can warm a room if your house gets cool. Place away from tanks.
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Hot water bottles – Fill with hot water, wrap in towel, and place near tank to radiate gentle heat.
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Infrared heat panels – Mount on tank lid and emit infrared heat like the sun. Include thermostats.
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Oil-filled radiators – Portable electric radiators can heat a room evenly. Low risk of burns.
Tips for Safely Heating Your Hermit Crab Tank
Follow these guidelines for safely and effectively heating your crab tank:
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Always use a thermostat with any heating element to prevent overheating.
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Monitor temps with a thermometer to ensure 75-85°F. Have a warm side and cooler side.
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For heat mats, place a layer of cardboard or styrofoam between tank bottom and mat.
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Keep heat lamps 6+ inches above tank to dissipate intensity and create a gradient.
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Check humidity levels often. Add moss pits, pools, or mist tank if heat dries it out.
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Never use hot rocks as they can leach minerals and burn crabs.
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Make any heating adjustments gradually over several days.
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Have a backup plan if power goes out like chemical hand warmers or hot water bottles.
With the right heating setup, your new hermit crabs will thrive in a warm, cozy environment reminiscent of their tropical homes. Just be sure to monitor temperature and humidity closely, especially when first setting up a tank. Happy hermit crab keeping!
Now let’s looks at light fixtures you can use.
Unless you use a heat pad at night, you will need to buy two lamps or change the bulbs from day to moon glow. These fixtures will also hold a ceramic heat emitter.
This low profile hood comes in several sizes and can be mounted inside your tank. These links also include the bulb!.
The Zoo Med T5 HO Reptisun Terrarium Hood is the next generation of reptile lighting. It uses less energy and gives off more UVA, UVB, and full spectrum light. It employs a rapid start electronic ballast that maximizes lamp performance. There is a highly polished curved reflector on the T5 reptile light fixture that sends light down into the terrarium so your reptile can get the most out of the T5 HO High Output linear fluorescent lamps. The result is stronger UVB and brighter light output than standard T8 fluorescent reptile lamps. Increased light and UV output.
*Ceramic heat emitters are challenging to use as they burn off humidity. Not suggested for beginners. Ceramic heat emitter can be used a stand alone heat source or in conjunction with other heat methods. No light is emitted. A 50 watt emitter is good for most crabitats. X-Large crabitats may need the 100 watt. Your emitter should be mounted at the top of your crabitat. This is an easy way to maintain a range of temperatures in the crabitat.
Under-tank heaters AKA heat pads
A heat pad is the ideal solution for properly heating your crabitat. Their heat is even and consistent 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and they can be connected to a thermostat to keep exact temperatures. Under-tank heaters come in a lot of different types, but you need to watch out that your crabs don’t get too hot. For this reason we do not mount the heat pad under the tank despite it’s name. Heat pads come in different sizes based on the size of your tank, but these rules aren’t always accurate. The heat pad should go along about three quarters of the tank’s longest wall and be attached to the outside of the glass above the substrate line. The heat pad should keep the temperature stable between 75 (cool side) and 85 degrees (warmer side). Hermit crabs are cold blooded creatures and must have a warmish and cooler side to their substrate. To accomplish this you can place the heat pad all the way to either end or your tank. Adding insulation to the outside of your heat pad might help it send all of its heat into the tank. The weather and temperature in your home will affect how well the heat pad works, so you may need to make changes between seasons. In some circumstances it may be necessary to use a heat pad the covers the entire back wall. In this circumstance, the front wall of the tank becomes your cool zone. See the bottom of this article for a link to insulating products.
UTHs can be used on plastic tanks however, plastic tanks are not recommended for use as permanent crabitat!!
We strongly advise that you use a heat pad along with an overhead light to keep the 12 hour day/night cycle going.
Heat Strips or Tape are manufactured in the same way as mats. They are made narrower and are generally used to heat small boxes and the cages used for housing juvenile snakes and some other species. The principles of use are the same as those for mats and the same precautions should be exercised. In small enclosures the heat build up can be very quick. The temperature should be adequately monitored and controlled with a thermostat.
Heat pad or mats are available in multiple sizes. The type sold at most pet stores typically more expensive and the adhesive does not last very long. The Ultratherm heat pads are a very nice quality at a lower price. These can easily be mounted with tape and additional insulation can be safely added if needed. Ultratherm heat pads are infrared and they work by heating objects and animals and NOT THE AIR. If your crabitat is devoid of decorations you will have trouble achieving optimal heat.
When using Ultratherm heat pads it does not matter which side goes against the glass:
Zoo Med discourages insulating their heat pads. Crabbers have done this safely, though, by leaving gaps in the insulation at the top and bottom to let air flow. Please educate yourself about potential hazards and proceed at your own risk.
Ultra Therm heat pads are safe to insulate.
Insulating products:
- Aluminum foil can help redirect heat into the tank
- Cardboard
- Foamboard
- Coroplast
- Reflectix
- Styrofoam Insulation
We do not recommend heating exclusively with overhead lights. It is challenging to maintain the proper environment with lights only. Plan for a heat pad and later adding an overhead light bulb. Use of a UVB bulb may extend the life of your hermit crab in captivity. The typical use is a 5. 0 reptile bulb for most tanks. The bulb should be put inside, close to the top of the tank, and there shouldn’t be any glass or plastic between it and the hermit crabs. LED, Incandescent and fluorescent are acceptable as well. I you have a very tall tank or a vertical tank you may need a 10. 0 bulb. These come in a variety of styles. It’s recommended to get a UVB sensor or meter that can measure the bulb output. Species such as C. strawberry spend more time at the beach and may benefit from more UVB exposure than a species that lives in the forest. UVB bulbs also have an expiration date. Look up the bulb to see how often it needs to be changed, and then write down the date it was put in.
You can use an overhead light or heat emitter instead of heat pads if you are not in an area that has them.
Hermit Crab Lights to use in your tank! | By Crab Central Station
FAQ
What kind of heat do hermit crabs need?
What kind of light do hermit crabs need?
Can a heat lamp keep a hermit crab warm?
If you’re worried that a heating pad isn’t enough to keep your hermit crabs warm, try a heat lamp. In this case, we need a bulb that will do two things: provide daytime light and heat. For this, you can use either an incandescent white light bulb, a reptile daylight heating bulb (incandescent), or a UVB CFL with a heating element.
Do hermit crabs need a light bulb?
An incandescent bulb will produce light and heat for your hermit crabs. Basking spot bulbs tend to get hotter than general daylight bulbs, so 50 watts might be sufficient for a 20-40 gallon tank. However, this might differ. To use this kind of bulb, you will need to get a fixture, clamp or a dome like this, that you will screw your bulb into.
How do you know if a hermit crab is hot?
To gauge the temperature of your hermit crab’s tank, you can use a thermometer or feel the tank to see if it’s too hot to the touch. If it feels too hot, moving your hermit crab to a more relaxed place may be time. A hermit crab heat lamp is a great way to keep your crab warm and comfortable.
Do hermit crabs need heating pads?
Hermit crabs’ tank needs to be warm – they cannot thrive in a cool or cold environment. Heating pads might cause problems if used inside the tank (burning hermies and creating air pockets). Be careful if you use one. There are bulbs that don’t produce light, so you can use one of those if you don’t need to light the tank.