One of the most popular questions that people often ask is, “What can I feed my hermit crab?” The answer to this question varies from person to person, but the most common choices are Eggs, Wood, Fruits, and Regular crab food. Let’s look at what each of these foods has to offer. What is the best food for your crab? Here are some tips to help you decide. Try one or more of these foods, and you will be surprised by the results!
Contents
Eggs
Hermit crabs lay many eggs during the breeding season. Unfortunately, most of them will never hatch and will end up becoming food for the mother crab. While hermit crabs can lay hundreds of eggs, the eggs are fragile and must meet the ideal hatching conditions in order to hatch. Temperatures of the water and the environment need to be just right. Eggs for hermit crabs can be found inside the shell of your pet.
A hermit crab egg is gray in color when it hatches. Hermit crabs can breed at any age, so it is important to wait until they have reached about 6mm in length before handling the eggs. You should wait for one month after you find them in order to carefully separate them from the mother. Once they reach the water, you can place the eggs in the saltwater pool to incubate them.
Wood
One of the best things you can feed your hermit crabs is wood. Wood is healthy for them and will last for longer than most other materials. You can find wood right outside your front door. You can also use cedar shavings, pine, or corn, which are dry and can be hard on your hermit crab. Make sure that you place these items on the bottom of the food dish to avoid the risk of your crab chewing them up.
If you do not want to use wood, consider purchasing high-quality commercial crab food. There are many different kinds of food available in pet stores, but you should avoid anything containing copper sulfate or ethoxyquin. Try to provide your crab with a variety of fruits and vegetables, as they will give it much-needed vitamins and minerals. Just be sure to wash the vegetables thoroughly to remove herbicides and pesticides, if necessary. Wood is a great source of natural fiber and protein, and can be a good supplement to a crab’s diet.
Fruits
Hermit crabs are fond of eating fruits, and the right types of fruit to feed them will increase their overall health and make them grow larger. In the wild, these creatures are opportunistic feeders, and their diets will often consist of anything edible that washes up on the shore. Fruits like pears, bananas, and melons are excellent options, as they are naturally low in sugar.
Many hermit crab owners believe that citrus fruits are toxic to them, but this isn’t true. The leaves and bark of citrus fruits can be toxic to them. Coconut is also a good choice, and dates contain a lot of fiber. Just check the label for sugar content. If they contain sulfate, this can be fatal to hermit crabs. Some fruits are toxic, but you can avoid putting these in your hermit crab’s food.
Regular crab food
When it comes to choosing hermit crab food, a variety of foods will do just fine. You can feed them just about anything, including fresh fruits and vegetables. Citrus fruits and vegetables should be allowed to wrinkle naturally, as they contain limonene, an insect repellent. If you’d prefer to avoid citrus, choose fruits and vegetables with a lower sugar content. Other good options include starchy vegetables, sweetened cereal, and nuts. Organic products are best, as they don’t contain any chemicals that can harm your pet.
As for the rest of the diet, regular crab food for hermit crabs should consist of protein seven days a week, vegetables six to seven days, and healthy fats twice a week. Some of the foods you can substitute are wheat grass, broccoli leaves, blackberries, strawberries, and Irish moss. Try to incorporate as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible, as these will provide your pet with much-needed vitamins and minerals. However, be sure to wash the vegetables thoroughly, as they may contain herbicides or pesticides. Even wood can provide a balanced diet for hermit crabs.
Scavenged food
Hermit crabs can eat nearly anything, from discarded meat to vegetables. They prefer to eat animal protein, and you can even give them bones! But keep in mind that while these creatures can eat nearly anything, you need to wash all fresh food thoroughly before offering it to your crab. Fresh food can contain pesticides and chemicals. Even a couple of discarded tomatoes may be delicious! However, you should not give your crab anything with sauces or herbs.
For the best results, give your crab pellets, which are a convenient one-time meal. However, if you’ve got a young hermit crab, make sure to grind them up or mix them with water. Canned food is also good, but make sure to read the ingredients and serve them according to the instructions. Some canned foods are richer than others. Also, remove the uneaten food every day, so that it does not go stale and develop rancidity.
Store-bought food
While hermit crabs will happily eat some store-bought food, they are not obligated to eat the variety of foods you offer. A good choice is fruit and vegetable-based foods. While they can eat some human-grade foods, they should eat only those without table salt and spices. You can also give your hermit crab a small amount of baby food to help satisfy their sweet tooth.
If you are concerned about your pet’s health, you can choose to feed your pet food that is specifically designed for hermit crabs. Most commercial brands of hermit crab food contain pesticides and preservatives. Despite the names of these substances, crabs are not as susceptible to these toxins as humans are. Moreover, pet foods do not have to follow the same regulations as human foods, so manufacturers do not always reveal the complete list of ingredients.
