New Crabber wonders if heater is necessary in South Florida

[rapunzel76]

I'm in the process of setting up a crabitat together with my eight-year-old, who has been in love with hermit crabs ever since she encountered one at a beach a couple of years ago. She begged to bring it home that day as a pet, but I insisted that the thing would never survive with us, so we photographed "Hermie" and released him. Months/years later, she's been doing a lot of research on hermit crabs, so I've agreed to jump in and allow her to raise some. I'm so glad to have found the Crab Care section of this site! How very helpful!

One question I have is whether a heater would be an absolute necessity in our South Florida home, where temps are typically 76-78 daily. We're setting up a 29-gallon tank for 4 medium-sized crabs (2 PP, 2 E), which we recently ordered from hermitcrabpatch.com and hope to receive next week.

Does anyone on this forum live in a tropical climate and have any experience keeping crabs in a tank without a heater?? I'd appreciate your advice!

[Wai]

I would still use a heater to bump the temperature up to about 82 F.

[rapunzel76]

ok, thank you!

[Wai]

Having said that, there should be a cooler and a warmer end of the tank.

[ladybug15057]

When checking the temp of the crabitat, please also keep check on the substrate temp as well. There can be a considerable difference between the air and substrate temp.
A heating device may not need to be used as often in Florida, but is needed. During the winter on occasions the temp will dip, and also if one uses air conditioning in the summer months.