What Can Hermit Crabs Eat?

what can hermit crabs eat

If you’re wondering what can hermit crabs eat, you’ve come to the right place. The following are a few foods your land hermit crab can enjoy. You should also keep in mind that she will prefer a diet free from live insects. This way, she’ll be able to enjoy the same health benefits of plant-based foods. If you can’t provide live insects, try substituting plants for hermit crab food. Other food items that your hermit crab may like include: wheat grass, leaves of broccoli, blackberries, strawberries, sea fan, Irish moss, and seven-grain cereals. Additionally, small amounts of oils and seeds can be added to your hermit crab’s diet.

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Food items for a land hermit crab

In addition to fish, meat and eggs, you can also give your land hermit crab plant proteins, including broccoli, kale, snap peas and lentils. You can also offer organic produce, such as dark green lettuce and cucumbers. These are considered organic because they contain no chemicals. If you are unsure what to feed your crab, read the following tips for selecting food items. Listed below are some foods to consider:

Avoiding live insects for hermit crabs

There are many advantages to introducing a small variety of insect life into the habitat of your hermit crab. While a normal beetle shouldn’t be a cause for concern, live insects containing parasites are definitely not. Springtails, for example, are harmless to hermit crabs and can be introduced slowly. Springtails, when removed promptly and cleaned up, will not stick around your hermit crab for long. Booklice are another common insect in hermit crab habitats, though these aren’t harmful to your crabs.

Oatmeal

Hermit crabs enjoy the taste of oatmeal. This whole-food is not only nutritious but also tasty. It is made from calcium and is suitable for a variety of pet diets. The oat cake should be broken into chunks so that your hermit crab can explore it and nibble on it. If you do not give your hermit crab the entire cake, it will likely sit in its enclosure for several days. However, do not leave it in the enclosure for more than a few days, as the oatcake will spoil quickly in high humidity and heat.

Catfish

Hermit crabs will eat virtually anything that they can find. Because they have 360-degree vision, they can distinguish colors and shapes. Hermit crabs have good hearing, but don’t rely on it to locate food. They can also hear low and medium frequencies, but don’t rely on them very much. Therefore, it’s best to avoid feeding hermit crabs catfish. Instead, give them other kinds of fish to eat.

Turkey

Crabs will eat turkey bones, giblets, and all the parts of the bird. They will also eat any type of vegetable or potato. However, it is important to cook dark leafy greens to reduce oxalic acid. Herbs such as rosemary can also be used for food. The compounds in rosemary can get into the crab’s bones. Therefore, it is best to cook this food before feeding it to the crabs.

Lobster

Hermit crabs are omnivores and are sometimes classified as scavengers since they eat dead animals. Although they have some similar features to lobsters and crabs, hermit crabs are not true crabs. They do not have the uniformly hard front exoskeleton of either. Instead, they use the shells of other animals to protect their soft tail. Regardless of its name, hermit crabs are more closely related to lobsters than to crabs.

Wood

Hermit crabs love wood. Not only does it provide a natural habitat, but it also contains many valuable nutrients. A good source of wood is pecan wood, which is abundant in southern states. Pecan wood can also be crafted into toys and obstacles for your hermit crab. Poplar wood is another option, as it is both pliable and brittle. Hermit crabs love to shed poplar wood.