Hermit Crab Habitat DIY Wood Structures
for more custom crabitat fun!
Hermit Crab Habitat DIY Wood Structures are fun ways to add more creative, customized features to your crabitat!
Creating a DIY wood structure is easy, inexpensive and can be any size and shape that fits the enclosure you have.
Hermit crabs CRAVE stimulation, and adding a new wood structure will attract their attention right away!
Paint colors, backlighting and custom signage are more ways to add fun and visual interest not just for your hermie pets, but for you too!
DIY Wood Structures for Hermit Crab Habitats Add Customized FUN!
Does your hermit crab habitat enclosure have any unused space? Most often, there is space on the top half to add a level for extra vertical climbing.
Depending on how much space is available, you can create a DIY wood building just as attractive fun, or create a dock or patio where your hermit crabs can climb up and onto it!
This can be a fairly easy, inexpensive project but you’ll need to get creative!
Use non-toxic, safe supplies
It’s important to make sure all supplies used are non-toxic, safe and secure for hermit crab pets. We used bamboo wood strips because they stand up to moisture and expansion issues slightly better than most other types of craft wood.
However, it’s very important to seal the wood for additional protection. Wood IS susceptible to splitting, mildew/mold issues, fading, breakage and expansion and won’t last forever.
In our hermit crab habitats where we’ve added these DIY wood structures, we expect them to withstand 1-3 years. We like to change around our habitats every 1-2 years for added stimulation for our hermit crab pets, so changing wood structures happens for us, regardless. Yes, hermit crabs get bored!
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Supplies
- bamboo wood strips: 15.7″ long, 3/8″ wide, .078″ thick
- acrylic waterbase non-toxic paint
- Mod Podge waterbase sealer, glue and finish (non-toxic)
Tools
- hand wood cutter or strong scissors
- glue gun, glue sticks
- paint brushes
- ruler
Our Chez Crab wood structure is approximately 7″ tall and only 1″ deep. We didn’t want this structure to take up much space in the habitat, we’re using this one just for added visual interest near the top of the enclosure.
We didn’t create our Chez Crab (orange) structure with any openings for hermit crabs to go inside, but you certainly can!
If you have the space, or want this to be a 2nd level, create a wood dock (platform) and secure the wood building on top. See Hermit Crab DIY Wood Dock and Crab Shack Project here.
Create a door, frame it and add a porch step (which will help when you secure it in your hermit crab habitat enclosure). Use non-toxic waterbased Elmer’s clear glue or similar if you need glue to dry slower than the hot glue gun.
If building is taller or wider, you may want to add two “windows”. We cut a thin piece of wood into two, painted and glued it to the front panel. If you plan to keep the back open for possible backlighting, don’t worry about making the roof/sides sit perfectly. Small gaps will allow light to shine through.
Paint sealer on to entire structure to help protect it from moisture. Create fun custom signage! We used canva.com, printed and glued onto a strip of wood. SEAL all paper with Mod Podge or similar non-toxic product to protect it from moisture.
Use hot glue or aquarium caulk (clear) to adhere to back of glass. Caulk works better for larger structures that need more stability. Add bigger porch or ladder for added visual interest and climbing opportunities for your hermit crabs.
Keep back open with no holes so hermit crabs can’t crawl in and get stuck inside. Want ideas for adding lighting, click here!
Last update on 2024-05-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API