How to make a rock wall for my hermit crabs?
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Daethian (
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August 27th, 2009
I’m not sure if I can add links to pics but I do have them. I need to replicate something I saw at a petstore. The made three walls of the aquarium climbable by pressing small gravel into some sort of epoxy, cement or adhesive and letting it set up. It is strong enough to hold large flat stones as ledges. I can’t determine what they used but I need a similar substance that would be non toxic. I was thinking of using plexiglass as the base. I’ll try to come back with photo links in case it’s allowed.
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15 Answers
You can use silicon aquarium glue, but you will have to keep pressure on the stones as it cures.
No, I don’t think aquarium glue would dry hard enough – when I used it, it stayed a bit bendy. You might PM the user uberbatman – he seems to know a lot about things having to do with aquariums.
The only other non toxic solution I’ve heard of is glazing putty.
Piece of plywood, or wonderboard. Then use liquidnails to adhere the stones
Looks like a huge aquarium. I would get a bag of sak-crete, mix it up in a bucket, as it starts to set, shape it the way you want it and stick the stones in where you want, adding more cement where it is needed to support the larger stone steps. I don’t know about toxic, but bugs and creatures crawl on concrete all the time and it doesn’t seem to hurt them.
I guess you could fill in the gaps with something less toxic, Liquidnails isn’t that bad once it dries, and the Wonderboard is basically a cement board used to put tile on. What kind of rock you gonna use, heard bad things about lava and toxicity, maybe not. Otherwise, sweet idea, I use to have crabs!
I have some sandstone rocks that are already in my tank that I plan to use. My tank is 150 gallons and I want to do the entire back wall which is 6 fee. I will have to create 4 sections to get it into the tank.
How heavy is this wonderboard?
I will need to get these sections flush enough with the glass to prevent the crabs from trying to get behind it.
Sandstone? is that crumbly. Wonderboard is like drywall, except its totally waterproof. You might be able to find a scrap of it, or its like 15 dollars for 3’ by 5’ piece. It cuts easy, just with a razor knife, score it, snap it, you know. Wouldn’t have to worry about it corroding. Get some Liquidnails, maybe the stuff you dont need a caulking gun for. Have some paint thinner handy to wash your hands, stuff is messy, can be. Sandstone? Your making like a climbing wall, vertical, right? Guess put the bigger pieces on the bottom. What kind of rock was the other one you saw made out of? Have you tried just getting some spray glue, and some really course sand, spraying the glue, covering it with the course sand, not what your going for? Whatev, maybe this helps, right? Oh do I look orange to you?
I just used a piece of wonderboard for a mosaic and it worked great.
Is the wall going to be completely vertical or just slightly inclined, how will you build the incline into a piece of the board?
@bumwithablackberry It can’t be true sandstone because I’ve had it 5 years and it’s yet to crumble. I don’t really know but they are flat stones.
The wonderboard sounds like a good option for the backing.
I haven’t tried anything yet but I definitely want to use small pebbles and the stone ledges. Not sure about toxicity of the liquid nails or spray glue. Hermit crabs will attempt to eat it if they can break a piece off.
yes you are orange.
@rooeytoo It will be completely vertical, no incline as they don’t need it.
The thing about the LiquidNails, is once it loses it’s VOC, it’s fumes, it could be safe, and you only need a little small amount of the stuff, on the back of the stone, where they can’t get to it. Hermit crabs, I had those, then I saw ones that were huge and I was like WTF, I suck at raising Hermit crabs. Then I got into Redtail boas, those were sweet. Until the power got shut off in there cage, they got cold, escaped, wrapped around my legs for warmth, and when I woke up, well, they bit the shit out of me. They were pissed off.
Plywood would work too, forgot Hermit crabs dont have wet cages. or if the cage aint an heirloom, just glue it to the side of the cage, but would have to empty it and put it on its side while the glue dries.
I haven’t had the greatest luck with liquid nails, and I was using it on wood. I don’t know how it would work on a surface like rocks and pebbles.
Seems as if you could do the job as a mosaic. First put the stones on with the adhesive used for tile and then grout it. That would look nice, grout comes in different shades.
You will have to post a pic when you are finished so we can all see. Sounds like a fun project.
I never knew hermit crabs could climb vertical walls!
Hermit crabs do have a moist environment, they need at least 72% relative humidity to breathe properly.
Tank isn’t an heirloom but its 6 feet long and already very heavy, so the segments need to be removable. I’m thinking of sealing around the edges with aquarium sealant since its not too hard to peel off should I want to.
The grout might make the stones too flush, the need to protrude for the crabs to be able to cling to them.
Hermit crabs are often called tree crabs and they are very active climbers :)
You are giving me lots to ponder and consider, keep the ideas coming!
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