Customer reviews for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
This kit contains nearly everything you need to welcome your new hermit crab. It's a great gift for kids!
Overall rating:
(14 reviews) 14
5 of 14(36%)customers recommend this product.
Reviews for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Review 1 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
It has the bones of a pretty okay crabitat
February 1, 2013
by bredoub
fromWA
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?5 or more
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Weekly
Reviewer Images
This crabitat can actually be pretty alright if you added to it, however the things it came with would not suffice.
I am actually really liking this setup after I modified it a little. The sponge that came with it was far too big for the little cage, so I cut it into fourths and it's working fine. I would not recommend using the shells for water, but if you had the room, it would be pretty alright for food.
If you're looking for a cheap crabitat, this can be a nice one to add to. I bought two 99 cent water dishes (for salt and fresh water), a half cut log hideout, and used some leftover sand from my fishtank (instead of the gravel it came with) to add to it. The shell ended up being too big to fit in it, but that was alright, I found something else to use instead. I doubt most heaters would work with this cage, but I'm using hot lamp next to my cage to keep it up to temperature.
I am actually really liking this setup after I modified it a little. The sponge that came with it was far too big for the little cage, so I cut it into fourths and it's working fine. I would not recommend using the shells for water, but if you had the room, it would be pretty alright for food.
If you're looking for a cheap crabitat, this can be a nice one to add to. I bought two 99 cent water dishes (for salt and fresh water), a half cut log hideout, and used some leftover sand from my fishtank (instead of the gravel it came with) to add to it. The shell ended up being too big to fit in it, but that was alright, I found something else to use instead. I doubt most heaters would work with this cage, but I'm using hot lamp next to my cage to keep it up to temperature.
I really like the metal mesh in the back for climbing, however, if you're paranoid about metal and crabs, you can dip the mesh in a non-toxic plastic coating.
***Something to keep in mind:***
I really do not suggest using this cage for larger hermit crabs. I chose the smallest two hermit crabs available at my pet store, and it's working out just fine.
I really do not suggest using this cage for larger hermit crabs. I chose the smallest two hermit crabs available at my pet store, and it's working out just fine.
Review 2 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
No good
January 9, 2013
by Crabtastic
fromAugusta ga
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?1
How often do you shop at PetSmart?A few times a year
I would not recommends his product for hermit crabs.
Review 3 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
awesome
July 9, 2011
by momo78712
fromfredricksburg,va
How many pets do you have?2
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Weekly
Appearance
Ease of Cleaning
Quality
it might be a little to tiny but it is awesome my hermit crab love climbing on the climbing grid comes with two sticks,three trees,climbing grid, andgiant bag of rocks
Pros: easy to clean
Review 4 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
Terrible "starter kit"
June 3, 2011
by Sciencegeek
fromOntario
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?5 or more
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Monthly
Appearance
Ease of Cleaning
Quality
This is not a good kit at all. The substrate it comes with is nearly impossible to burrow in . It is a tiny tank that would just fit a hermie hut in. The metal grid it comes with will rust and take up space. It doesn't include any shells, hideing huts, food, bowls, water conditioner, etc. It doesn't hold humidit well eithar. It cracks easily and the background starts to stink after a while. the plants are flimsy and small. The only good thing is that it's easy to clean. hermit crabs wouldn't live a month in this. The sponge is alo way too big. Hermit crabs don't drink off of sponges.
Pros: easy to clean
Cons: low quality, price
Review 5 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
Not the ideal crabitat.
January 13, 2011
by HC23
fromPA
Appearance
Ease of Cleaning
Quality
For hermit crabs to thrive, they need much more than a small container, a bit of gravel, a sponge, and a few items to climb on. In fact, gravel is not recommended for hermit crabs, as they cannot burrow (which interferes with destressing and molting). Sponges too, are not recommended, as they are usually more trouble than they are worth (they need to be sanitized daily to prevent mold from growing). Items to climb on are good, but they also need a shelter in order to hide (also helps with destressing). The cage, with all of it's items are too small for hermit crabs to live comfortably.
Review 6 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
Bad for anyone
October 17, 2010
by fishexpertforreal
fromCleveland,OH
What is your gender?M
How many pets do you have?5 or more
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Weekly
Appearance
Ease of Cleaning
Quality
This is way too small for crabs. I would recomend a 5 gallon with climbing places for 5 hermit crabs.
Cons: too small, ugly
Review 7 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
ok
July 5, 2010
by ANiMALGURLiE
fromleitchfield, ky
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?5 or more
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Monthly
Appearance
Ease of Cleaning
Quality
for my birthday my friend got me this along with my hermit crab "Kate" it was great and she liked it but i got her a ten gallon tank a week later and she liked that better. lol. too small for permantnt housing.
Pros: cute
Cons: too small
Review 8 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
definately not for hermit crabs, but usable for...
September 23, 2009
by ReptilianGal
fromStanton, Ky
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?5 or more
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Monthly
Appearance
Ease of Cleaning
Quality
Reviewer Images
I bought this when I bought my first hermit crab, Spaz, and it quickly became apparent that there is NO possible way this is adequate. They need a food bowl, a large water bowl with fresh water and a large one with salt water, a hidey hut, at least 3 extra shells per each crab and a buddy (so at least 6 shells) there is no way on earth you can pull that off with this tank. I bought my hermit crab a 10 gallon tank and other things and 3 buddies and he's super happy now. I put my betta, Reptar in the tank without the sticks, grid and sponge, and I added some more plants and a big rock and some of the hermit crab sand, and it made a wonderful home for him. I gave it 2 quality stars because mine came with a crack on one corner and the lip was chipped off on another spot.
Cons: too small
Review 9 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
good but small
August 10, 2009
by mmchatterbox
frombothell,WA
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?5 or more
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Monthly
Appearance
Ease of Cleaning
Quality
I like this product but it need softer ground cover then just gravel the sponge is to big so you should cut it in half both of my hermite crabs like cover so you shuold get a shelter you have to take off the hole lide to do any thing inside of it
Pros: esay to clean
Cons: small, gravle
Review 10 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
too small
October 16, 2008
by crabmama
fromDE
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?5 or more
How often do you shop at PetSmart?A few times a year
This cage would only be suitable as an ISO or for carrying new crabs home from the store. It is way too small for a permanent home. I suggest going with at least a 10 gallon aquarium. Also, gravel is a poor choice of substrate for hermit crabs. It does not allow for tunneling which is necessary for LHCs to have healthy, successful molts. The Hermit Crab Association recommends sand and/or Eco Earth at least 6 inches deep.
Review 11 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
July 25, 2008
by Emmy4567
fromGreeneville
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?3
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Monthly
Appearance
Ease of Cleaning
Quality
This tank is not big enough for hermit crabs!!!!!!! I would recomend getting a 10-20 Gallon tank.
Review 12 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
iluvallcreature
November 27, 2007
by iluvallcreatures
fromMD
What is your gender?F
How many pets do you have?2
How often do you shop at PetSmart?Monthly
I am only giving this 2 stars because
a) Its way too small (hermit crabs can walk up to 1mile at nite)
b) It would ONLY be good as a habitat to keep it in if you are cleaning.
c) Do not use the gravel. Use sand with wood substrate. the wood ubsorbes water so all you have to do is pour a bit of water on it and the sand has calcium.
d) Too small for a heater. Hermit crabs NEED atleast 70+ degrees to live, otherwise they will burie them selves and starve to death!!!
P.s. Parents, to save your kids the grief of a deceased hermit crab, Buy a 10 gallon glass tank with an underground heater an d the other supplies. You will save lots of money in the long run!!:)
a) Its way too small (hermit crabs can walk up to 1mile at nite)
b) It would ONLY be good as a habitat to keep it in if you are cleaning.
c) Do not use the gravel. Use sand with wood substrate. the wood ubsorbes water so all you have to do is pour a bit of water on it and the sand has calcium.
d) Too small for a heater. Hermit crabs NEED atleast 70+ degrees to live, otherwise they will burie them selves and starve to death!!!
P.s. Parents, to save your kids the grief of a deceased hermit crab, Buy a 10 gallon glass tank with an underground heater an d the other supplies. You will save lots of money in the long run!!:)
Review 13 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
Great hermit habbitat
December 17, 2006
by Bobbyscool
fromMilwaukee,wi
Appearance
Ease of Cleaning
Quality
This tank is a great-easy to clean tank. though some say it is not a suitable living enviorment, it is perfect for 1 or 2 hermit crabs. no more than that. The hermit crabs have a great time climbing on the climing grid and it is easy to monitor your hermits through this cage. gravel, not the best thing for hermit crabs but hey you don't need to use it. sand and other stuff is better. my rating is that this is a great-suitable cage and great habittat for a hermit crab!
Review 14 for Penn-Plax Hermit Crab Starter Kit
Overall rating
What I think
August 21, 2006
Appearance
Ease of Cleaning
Quality
I am not being mean by saying this, it actually says it is a good use for something so please read this whole thing before saying I'm mean.
This tank is too small for hermit crabs to live in. It is although OK for a molting tank for small crabs. But it is too small for a tank for them to live in forever. A nice 10-20 gallon tank is great. Also gravel is not a good substrate for crabs. It gets stuck in their shell and may hurt their abdomen. You can use play sand from a toy store and make it deep and moist so they can dig in it (To releive stress and to molt). Also, about the climbing gris, it is made out of metal which is not good.
I use this tank as a place for my crabs to molt. You can also use it to bring your crabs home in and maybe keep them in while you set up thier new tank or clean out their tank.
The overall rating is 3 because : It is a good molting tank for small crabs.
The appearance is 3 because : It isn't ugly. But the whole grid and gravel thing is not so adorable cause it's not good for the crabs.
The ease of cleaning is 4 because : It's small.
The quality is 3 because : A good molting tank and a good spot to keep crabs in while you're cleaning their tank.
I use this tank as a place for my crabs to molt. You can also use it to bring your crabs home in and maybe keep them in while you set up thier new tank or clean out their tank.
The overall rating is 3 because : It is a good molting tank for small crabs.
The appearance is 3 because : It isn't ugly. But the whole grid and gravel thing is not so adorable cause it's not good for the crabs.
The ease of cleaning is 4 because : It's small.
The quality is 3 because : A good molting tank and a good spot to keep crabs in while you're cleaning their tank.
Thanks for reading this. Hope it helped. :)