Most crabbers as they begin customizing their crabitats start looking for options to create a second level. Second levels are great for added climbing space, keeping shells from filling up with substrate, and giving crabs a place to bask closer to the light. When I first started crabbing I had an odd shaped tank and nothing I found really worked for me. I didn't like the neon green color of the reptile hammock and I didn't like the suction cup soap dish either. I wanted my tank to look as natural as possible. That's when I had the idea for climbing nets made from hemp. There was nothing else like it on the market!

Most crabbers have struggled with mold at one point or another. As an advocate for the legalization of industrial hemp, I realized that it was the perfect material for creating a climbing net. Far superior to any other nets on the market, hemp is strong, mold resistant (naturally), safe for consumption, and easy to find in stores. In summer of 2005 I started selling my nets on ebay and continued for over a year. Now you can make your own following these easy directions!

I knit my nets but its also easy to crochet them. I use large needles, usually between size 13 and 17. You can buy the hemp by the ball at Michael's and Hobby Lobby or any craft store. I buy 48lb test untreated hemp. It's the strongest you can buy that is still easy to work with. I have found that if you smell the twine that has been chemically treated or waxed hemp gives off a very chemical smell. You do not have to go out of your way to find organic hemp. Hemp is naturally pest and mold resistant and is almost never treated in the field.


There is also colored hemp out there but be careful to make sure that it has been dyed with something that will not harm your crabs. Because hemp is a plant, your crabs are more likely to eat it. Vegetable dyed hemp is acceptable although the colors are limited to those colors that can be done with vegetable/plant material. If the hemp twine is blue, black, or white it has not been vegetable dyed, but rather some other process that cannot be guaranteed to be safe for your crabbies. Also remember that vegetable dye is not usually a vibrant color but more muted tones, similar to the color of leaves turning in the fall. Naturally dyed hemp is not the same as vegetable dyed. Remember, hemp is manufactured for crafting not eating!

The following were the three most popular nets I sold in my ebay store.

NOTE: You are welcome to knit these nets for your own personal use but you do not have my permission to sell them.


18x8 in Net
This net will comfortably cover the back of a 10 gallon tank.

• Using size 17 needles, cast on 40.
• Knit in either stockinette stitch (knit odd rows, purl even) or garter stitch (knit all rows) for 16 rows.
• Bind off.

TIP:When working with the hemp, you will have to pull at it as you knit it, especially the garter stitched nets, to lock the hemp in place. The net will seem oddly shaped as your knit it but do not worry, it will be just right by the time we are done.

10x8 inch Rectangle Climbing Net

Covers half of a 10 gallon tank.

• Using size 17 needles cast on 20 and knit for 16 rows. Bind off. Yep, it's that easy!

Now for something a little more complicated. The most popular item in my eBay store was a corner shelf moss net. It is triangle shaped with a small ladder that comes off of the front.

Corner Shelf Moss Net

• Cast on 1
• R1 knit in the front and back of the stitch
• R2 Purl
  R3 knit in front and back of first stitch, knit to end of row, knit in front and back of last stitch
• Repeat R2 and R3 until you have 22 stitches on needle
• bind off.

To knit ladder, cast on 8, knit every row for 16 rows, bind off.

TIP: Once youve finished knitting your net you need to finish it before putting it in the tank. Soak your net in salt water and lay it out on a paper towel to dry. Stretch and pull it until youve got it the shape you want. It will shrink up to 10% of its size the first time you get it wet.

Once its dry, attach it to your tank walls with plastic suction cups (make sure they have plastic hooks as well). Place a pile of damp moss in your moss corner shelf and enjoy!

Don't stop with these three, the sky is the limit, I knit all kinds of different shapes for my crabitat. The only thing limiting you is your imagination!