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Instructions for Making a Climbing Net for Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs are natural climbers. Climbing nets not only add some variety to the crabs' environment and provide them with exercise, but they also add visual interest for the crabs' caretakers.

Things You'll Need

Skein of undyed organic hemp
Pair of Size 17 knitting needles
Scissors
2 suction cups
Stick about the thickness of the knitting needles

Instructions

- 1
  To knit your hermit crabs a climbing net, use a pair of Size 17 knitting needles and a skein of undyed, organic hemp. Cast on 40 stitches, leaving a 3-inch tail.
- 2
  Knit for 16 rows, knitting the last row very loosely. Size 17 knitting needles are quite large, being 12.5 mm in diameter, creating an open weave net.
- 3
  Slide the stitches from the needle onto a stick that is about the same thickness as your knitting needles, and cut the hemp free of the skein.
- 4
  Tie each of the two free corners of the net (i.e., the ones without the stick) to a suction cup.
- 5
  Place the hermit crab climbing net in the crab tank, laying the stick end of the net on the ground.
- 6
  Dampen the concave side of the suction cups before pressing them against the glass. The suction cups should be far enough apart to spread out the climbing net and not so high that it holds the net off the floor of the tank.

Animals & Science