Hermit Crab Ramp Ideas for Water Bowls
Plus Easy DIY Ramp Project under $5!
Hermit crab ramp ideas are important to consider when setting up a new habitat, when hermit crabs get larger and when you want to add a larger water option for your hermit crabs to enjoy.
Does your hermit crab water bowl, dish, lagoon or pool need a ramp? If it’s deep enough for your hermit crabs to submerge, it probably needs a ramp. Hermit crabs naturally have a large reach, but why risk it? It’s best to add a ramp to all water containers, and it’s easy! Let’s look at the best options, plus an easy DIY natural-looking ramp project for under $5 and 5 minutes.
Hermit Crab Ramp Options for Water Bowls
- Built-in ramps in natural-looking resin bowls
- Easy DIY natural-looking ramp under $5 and 5 minutes
- Other options like plastic grid thingies
Resin Bowls with Built-in Ramps
There are some great water bowl options made specifically for hermit crabs. However, there aren’t a lot of choices when it comes to size, besides “small”. As your hermit crabs grow, and you invest in larger habitats for them, you’ll want larger water bowls (or lagoons or pools!).
At this point you’ll want to look in the reptile section of the pet store for medium and large sized resin bowls with built-in ramps. (or see my under $5 Target options below!).
The small Fluker’s Hermit Headquarters Lagoon is made specifically for hermit crabs, and works great in a smaller habitat. I use this one for saltwater in my 10-gallon quarantine tank. It’s deep enough for small to submerge fully, and medium hermit crabs can submerge to 3/4 easily.
The ramp is built-in, natural looking with perfect gradual steps and the outer rim has a lip that helps prevent excessive amounts of sand and substrate from getting in. This is one of my favorite hermit crab supplies, and you can find it on Amazon for less than $10. MAKE SURE TO MEASURE FIRST, BEFORE BUYING WATER BOWLS!
And below, see other options with built-in ramps. The smaller ones are found in the hermit crab supply section, and the medium, large and extra large sizes are in the reptile section of your local pet store. Or if you love to shop on Amazon, search for reptile water bowls.
Make Your Own Ramp
Want a medium or large water container for under $10 WITH a ramp? Here are two options that both cost under $10 found at Target. Make your own natural-looking ramp for under $5, done in under 5 minutes. Why use a non-pet container from Target? They can be a smart use of the corner of a 10 or 20 gallon tank, and can be found in the right size for your hermit crab needs (size of your hermies, size of their habitat, depth you want).
For more ideas for different sizes, shapes, types of water containers for your hermit crab habitat, see my post Hermit Crab Water Dish Options here.
Easy DIY Natural-looking Ramp
For under $5 and 5 minutes, you can create a natural-looking ramp in most any suitable container. For this 10-gallon hermit crab habitat set-up project (pictured above), I went to Target to find water bowl options.
My favorites: a $2 clear 4″x4″x2″ clear acrylic container, and a $5 grey (or white) 9″x3″x1.5″ plastic container. Though I prefer natural-looking water bowls, these two options work well for the 10 gallon tank.
Because they can be placed in a corner, they are a smart way to use the limited space. And they are deep enough for your hermit crabs to submerge happily, as long as you add an easy (and stable) way for them to get in and out.
Add an easy quick DIY natural-looking rock ramp:
– Natural Rocks of your choice (make sure they are natural, not coated in any chemicals, paint or other synthetics that can seep into the water and harm your hermies)
– Aquarium acrylic sealant (under $5, comes in clear or black) works great to “glue” your rocks in place, and it’s completely non-toxic and fish (and hermit crab) safe in water.
Choose a few natural rocks that can fit together into a nice gradual slope. Just a small amount of aquarium sealant applied to the bottom of each rock is needed. Make sure rocks are very clean, and very dry first. Then add the sealant, one rock at a time until you are happy with the ramp you’ve made. I suggest giving it 24 hours to set. Run water over the rocks and rinse everything before adding to your hermit crab habitat.
Other plastic grid-like ramp thingies
No offense to anyone using this stuff… but this solution makes your hermit crab habitat look like a science lab experiment. I get it, it’s been the hermit crab culture (especially on reddit) to use these things as ramps. But why?!! Come on, there are way better solutions to make your hermit crab habitat look natural and attractive!
Yes, when used smartly, these plastic grid-like ramp thingies can work to give hermit crabs an easier way to crawl in and out. However, if you buy this off Amazon chances are you’re buying a $2.00 product for $14.99!
Your local fabric or craft supply store will have the harder plastic grids that you can cut to size and zip-tie together (small plastic zip-ties are at your local hardware store or Walmart).
For a softer plastic version, look in the kitchen drawer liner section for a roll, and simply cut to size.
WORST Hermit Crab product on Amazon?
If you like this solution, look on Etsy first. There are hermit crab owners who understand their needs, and create a better solution than this (above) nonsense! And on Etsy, you’re supporting other hermit crab pet owners.
If your water bowl has a little extra space, add a plant! Use fish tank decoration plants with a weighted bottom. Your hermit crabs WILL LOVE to try to crawl on these plants (guaranteed!). They are weighted on the bottom (so they stand upright by themselves). But IF you’re using plants as a “ramp” to safeguard any potential drowning… add a dab of aquarium sealant to the bottom and affix it to the water bowl so it’s secure. Plastic aquarium plants are made to be non-toxic for fish, and clean up easily. A great solution!
If you’re looking for more decorating and landscaping ideas for your hermit crab habitat, here’s my post: Hermit Crab Habitat Ideas for Landscaping.
Last update on 2024-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API