Crabworx Hermit Crab Health Block Review

 

We gave this crabworx hermit crab accessory 5 out of 5 stars. It's the only one of a kind we've found. This is a calcium block, created specifically for hermit crabs. There are many others on the market called 'cuttlebones' for turtles and birds. But this specific cuttlebone is just the right size for hermit crabs. We recommend hitting it with a hammer once and giving your crabs 1/4 peices at a time. This will prevent it from not being used and getting 'soggy' in your humid environment.

Calcium blocks, like this one, are important for hermit crabs because they offer nutrients that otherwise cannot be found in the 'domesticated' foods we feed them. They help keep crabs strong for molting periods and substitute vitamins they would usually find in their natural beach habitat. This specific one is packed with vital nutrients and comes in a very hard form- which is good. Softer cuttlebones, like ones for birds, tend to degrade into the sand faster than this one that holds up well in the heated humid environment of a crabitat. Worried your crab won't be able to munch off such a hard rock? Those pinchers are stronger than you give them credit for! They'll munch it away easily.

All in all this calcium block should be a necessity in every crabitat. It holds up wonderfully in moist warm conditions and is full of vitamins that keep your little critters healthy!

Repitat Reptile House 5 Gallon Acrylic Habitat Review

4 of 5 Stars

Sized for: micro, 'ant', or small hermit crabs

Glass or Acrylic: Acrylic
Accessories Included: Metal hood

This terrarium, although small, is the perfect beginner tank for someone starting with 2 to 3 hermit crabs. It has a very nice 'hexagonal' shape that not only looks decorative but creates an easy environment to decorate and clean (not many pesky sharp corners to work around). It is tall enough to create a 'second story' with either a hemp net or small wicker basket, yet small enough to nicely fit on a bookshelf.
 

Because it is acrylic this aquarium tends to hold in heat and moisture more efficiently than glass terrariums, also making it a good starter tank. It comes with a metal screen lid, heavy enough so that even the strongest hermit crab will not be able to lift it. To keep in humidity we suggest covering three fourths of the lid with plastic wrap.
 

This terrarium is small, light-weight, and virtually unbreakable. Because of this it is a great option for children and small apartment-like spaces. It is also great for micro, 'ant', and other tiny hermit crabs. If you are housing hermit crabs smaller than a dime and want to ensure they are in a place big enough to wonder around but small enough to be able to monitor, this should be your first choice for a terrarium. It's comfortable yet still a size where you can easily keep track of all of those 'itty bitty' crabs you put inside.
 

Humidity Tips: Cover three fourths of the metal screen with plastic wrap, or else the holes will easily allow moisture to escape. Keep two wet sponges in the terrarium and lightly mist it with a spray bottle twice a day. Because this terrarium is small, the humidity should stay relatively high without much effort.
 

Heating Tips: Use a 'Zoo Med Hermit Crab Heater' on the backside of the terrarium and a small lamp on top. Combined these two things should create a comfortable 70 to 80 degree environment.

Marineland Eclipse 12 Gallon Aquarium Review

5 out of 5 stars

Sized for: 2 to 6 hermit crabs
small, medium, and large (not jumbo)
Glass or Acrylic: Acrylic
Accessories Included: Hood with light, aquarium filter

Although this aquarium was obviously made for fish, it's one of the best options out there for hermit crabs. The size is perfectly small and ideal for a family of around 5 hermit crabs. You can resell the filter parts to make back some of the money it took to invest in the aquarium, considering you won't be needing them. But this does come with a full hood and lighting that is perfectly bright yet not overwhelming.

This tank has a bow-front meaning that it kind of has a curve to it. It looks gorgeous and would nicely fit into anyone's home without being overwhelming. Ideally this is the smallest sized aquarium that hermit crabs should reside. It may seem big, but for those tiny creatures it's barely enough room to explore. This particular aquarium has enough floor space for them to wonder, while also supplying ample height to extend the aquarium to different levels with shelves, hemp nets, and so on.

This is an acrylic aquarium, which tends to hold in heat and humidity better than glass tanks. It comes with a textured bottom, which is good, but doesn't necessarily create adequate space for a heater. A heater with this tank would have to be attached to the back. With that being said, it seems to insulate heat very well and the lamp gives off enough warmth during the day to help with humidity and the temperature of the aquarium.

If you have a small colony of crabs, this is the perfect terrarium to upgrade to. It would also make a great ISO tank.

Humidity Tips: A small waterfall or air pump leading into a water dish would keep this tank very well 'hydrated'. If you can't make that investment, try placing four large sponges in the tank and lightly misting it with a spray bottle 3 to 4 times a day.
Heating Tips: Keep the lights on twelve hours a day, they will help up the warmth, and then place a small to medium sized heater on the back of the tank to supplement the extra heat. Together these two should create a good sense of warmth in the crabitat.

Zoo Med Hermit Crab Sand Review

4 out of 5 Stars

If you want sand that is guaranteed safe for hermit crabs, here you go. On the other hand this sand is extremely expensive. A 2 lb bag ranges from $2.00 to $4.00 depending on which place you shop. In order to fill an entire crabitat those 2 lb bags will become costly very fast. If you have a smaller 10 gallon crabitat that holds hermit crabs for your children, then this may be the only time that Zoo Med Hermit Crab Sand would actually be a good investment.

This is the only colored sand available on the market today that is 100% proven safe for hermit crabs. The dyes used are not harmful to the animals health. There are a variety of colors available. From green to yellow you can personalize your child's tank in a way they will adore and so will your crabs. And because of this, those $2.00 bags are well worth the investment. Don't substitute colorful aquarium gravel for sand simply because of the color choices. Gravel just isn't proper for hermit crabs. On the other hand, this sand is the perfect choice. Your child will be able to pick a color they like. And that one trait makes this sand stand out from the rest. If that's what you are looking for then this should be your only choice. But if you want a natural sand appearance this is a bit expensive and there are better options out there.

Zoo Med Desert Repti-Sand Review

5 out of 5 stars

This sand is affordable and perfect for crabitats. It's reptile safe, hermit crab safe, and one of the best commercial pet sands available on the market. It holds up well when wet and creates a good diggable texture. It isn't too course so it creates a nice soft surface for your hermit crabs to roam on.

Unlike other commercial pet sands, this sand comes in bulk sizes. The 25 lb bag is an ideal size for a 25 to 30 gallon crabitat. You could get two uses with a 10 to 15 gallon crabitat. The product isn't overpriced and is available with free shipping on Amazon if you can't find it at your local pet shop.

This particular sand comes in a white color which is natural and often preferred for crabitats. No extra vitamins were added and it seems to be one of the most natural sands available out there. The texture is natural, the color is natural, and it makes a perfect addition to any crabitat.

Vita Sand Reptile Calcium Substrate Review

2 of 5 Stars

This sand is great for reptiles, but unfortunately doesn't make a good substrate for hermit crabs. It has a very pungent smell to it when it is damp. Hermit crab sand must have a very moist consistency, and this sand isn't necessarily made to get wet. Although it does create a diggable texture it also seems to almost 'rot' in a way. Although it doesn't mold it does have a smell that gets stronger and stronger when combined with humidity and heat.

This sand would work in a 'treat bowl'. In small amounts it can make a healthy calcium treat for hermit crabs. And hermit crabs will eat this sand. It has a smell that they are naturally drawn to. Whether or not it has any beneficial vitamins is undetermined, but it doesn't harm the crabs.

For a main substrate, this sand should not be used in a wet/warm terrarium that would be ideal for a hermit crab. But, if you made a quick investment, you could use this sand in a portion of the aquarium as a treat. It will need to be changed every few days to prevent a strong odor.

Zoo Med Hermit Crab Heater Review

2 of 5 Stars

This is the only heater on the market that is advertised specifically for hermit crabs. Unfortunately, it really isn't the best option for a crabitat. A crabitat should be at least ten gallons in size. Two gallons per each hermit crab inside. This heater was created specifically for overwhelmingly small terrariums that are near two gallons in size. This is enough space for one hermit crab, but as any hermit crab owner should know- one hermit crab is most certainly not enough. These social creatures need at least one friend, if not more. Because this heater was made for a two gallon terrarium, that's the kind of terrarium it works for. Unfortunately, that size of terrarium is not a valid habitat for hermit crabs.

The heat from this heater is very subtle. Although it could be used for a five to seven gallon terrarium, it would have to have the heat substituted with a lamp or other heat source. It gives off barely enough heat to warm the sand. A normal crabitat should have between 3 and 6 inches of sand. This heater would most certainly not create enough heat to penetrate that amount of sand. It could be used on the side of a terrarium as well, but even so the heat would not be enough to create the steady 70 to 80 degrees needed in a crabitat.

The heater does come in 'sticker' form, where it peels from a piece of paper and can be stuck to any part of the terrarium. This is a convenient trait that seems to be a staple among many terrarium heaters. And this is one of the best ways to ensure that none of the heat is lost in empty air space. This heater also comes with stickable tabs that can be stuck on the bottom of the aquarium to lift it up enough for the heater to sit underneath without ruining countertops and table finishes. Again, another nice trait.

Although this heater wouldn't work for a main crabitat, it could work for a smaller terrarium being used as an ISO tank or a molting area for hermit crabs. It would work best on a 2 gallon terrarium, and with that size could produce enough heat to keep a molting crab comfortable without overheating the small space. We wouldn't recommend this heater for any other use aside from a small molting tank. Unfortunately this 'hermit crab heater' really wasn't created with a hermit crabs well being in mind.

Buy a Zoo Med Hermit Crab Heater Here