Many times I have been asked about a cheaper alternative for hermit crab tanks. A great way to save money and still provide your crabs with plenty of space is bin cages. These tanks could be used as temporary tanks or be permanent housing. Plastic storage containers come in a variety of sizes and are sold pretty much everywhere.
To get the right size, I suggest either measuring the space where you will put the crab tank or measure the dimensions of the preferred tanks size and find one of similar size. This is to make sure you don't pick out too small of a tank.
Once you have the bin, you will need to make sure it has a proper lid with air holes. There are multiple ways to do this but here are some easy methods:
1) Cut out the top and insert a type of mesh (that the crabs won’t be able to fit through). You can attach the mesh with staples, glue, zip ties, tape, etc. You would then need to put plastic wrap over to manage the humidity.
2) Puncture small holes in the lid. Make sure you puncture enough holes for enough air to get through but not too much so it would affect the humidity.
3) If you have a bin with no lid, you can use a sheet of coroplast- sold at pretty much any sign shop or even some hardware shops- or plastic and either puncture holes in it or prop it in a way so air can get in but the crabs can’t get out. I also suggest putting either books or something slightly heavy on top so the crabs can’t potentially escape.
Once the lid is set up and the bin is cleaned of any debris or dirt, you are ready to set up the tank. You can pretty much set up a bin cage just the same way you would with a glass tank. The only thing I would worry about would be any heater that would stick to the sides of the tank. Depending on the type and strength of the heater, I would worry about it melting the plastic. Some people have used human heat pads instead which can be taped or propped against the bin.
If you run into a problem or have any questions while setting up your bin cage, don’t hesitate to contact us. Share pictures of your bin cage with us and we can post them on our Instagram and Facebook page.
To get the right size, I suggest either measuring the space where you will put the crab tank or measure the dimensions of the preferred tanks size and find one of similar size. This is to make sure you don't pick out too small of a tank.
Once you have the bin, you will need to make sure it has a proper lid with air holes. There are multiple ways to do this but here are some easy methods:
1) Cut out the top and insert a type of mesh (that the crabs won’t be able to fit through). You can attach the mesh with staples, glue, zip ties, tape, etc. You would then need to put plastic wrap over to manage the humidity.
2) Puncture small holes in the lid. Make sure you puncture enough holes for enough air to get through but not too much so it would affect the humidity.
3) If you have a bin with no lid, you can use a sheet of coroplast- sold at pretty much any sign shop or even some hardware shops- or plastic and either puncture holes in it or prop it in a way so air can get in but the crabs can’t get out. I also suggest putting either books or something slightly heavy on top so the crabs can’t potentially escape.
Once the lid is set up and the bin is cleaned of any debris or dirt, you are ready to set up the tank. You can pretty much set up a bin cage just the same way you would with a glass tank. The only thing I would worry about would be any heater that would stick to the sides of the tank. Depending on the type and strength of the heater, I would worry about it melting the plastic. Some people have used human heat pads instead which can be taped or propped against the bin.
If you run into a problem or have any questions while setting up your bin cage, don’t hesitate to contact us. Share pictures of your bin cage with us and we can post them on our Instagram and Facebook page.