When it comes to the diet of land hermit crabs, there are lots of recommendations. Some of these include fish flakes, spirulina, popcorn, and fruits. You’ll need to know the exact quantities of each before you start feeding them. However, these recommendations are not a rigid schedule – they are simply guidelines to follow. The book Crustacean Nutrition can help you choose the right diet for your land hermit crab.
Contents
Popcorn
A land hermit crab’s diet can be made up of a variety of items, including peanut butter, trail mix, and dried bird eggs. Other food items that hermit crabs like include sliced meats, chicken, turkey, and fish, and some will even eat popcorn. Other options for the crab’s diet are cereal, nuts, raisins, and trail mix. However, some people are surprised to learn that their hermit crabs actually like popcorn!
Hermit crabs can enjoy popcorn but it is best to use air-popped variety. You can also mix kernels and coconut oil in a brown paper lunch bag and microwave them until they pop. Try to avoid citrus, onions, and garlic. Here are some recipes for the most palatable treats for hermit crabs. You can read more about feeding your hermit crab popcorn at home. You can also add crushed cuttlebone, oyster shell, and fish flakes to the diet.
Spirulina
While some people may think that seaweed is unsuitable for a land hermit crab diet, you should be aware that the nutrients it contains are essential for your hermit crab’s well-being. Spirulina is a type of microalgae, a type of seaweed. It is the purest source of minerals and vitamins. Seaweed can be purchased in pet stores, health food stores, or even online.
Baby hermit crabs feed on plankton during their larval stage. These crabs are typically hatched in the wild and require oceanic conditions to mature. Because they cannot eat large items while in the larval stage, they are fed brine shrimp coated with Spirulina. Spirulina is available in health food stores, which make it an easy and affordable supplement to add to your hermit crab’s diet.
Fish flakes
Regular hermit crab food is fine for your pet. It should not be too salty but should satisfy the crab’s taste buds and provide calcium needed for a strong exoskeleton. Just make sure it does not contain table salt. A common mistake people make when feeding their hermit crab is giving them bread crumbs. Try offering fresh protein daily instead. If the hermit crab does not respond to your first attempt, try again the next day.
Crushed eggshells are an excellent calcium source for hermit crabs. Fish flakes are made from algae. Avocado leaves are poisonous for hermit crabs, but the fruit is safe for them to eat. Citrus fruits are not recommended for hermit crabs because they contain natural insecticides. Avoid using table salt as it has a large amount of iodine in it. This is poisonous in large doses, but it helps in the process of molting. Lastly, use bottled water. The water in taps is often chlorinated and contains a lot of chemicals.
Fruits
While it is not necessary to peel pears, apples are safe for hermit crabs. These fruits are loaded with carbohydrates and water, and also have calcium and antioxidants. Red apples, in particular, are an excellent treat for hermit crabs. You can also try baby food for them, which is high in beta-carotene and contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. These are a few of the most common fruits used as supplements for the diet of land hermit crabs.
You can buy high-quality commercial crab foods from a pet store. They come in gel, pellet, or powder form. You should look for brands that are free of ethoxyquin and copper sulfate. Also, make sure to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in their diet, as they are rich in vitamins and minerals. Also, make sure to thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables to remove any pesticides or herbicides. Wood also serves as a good source of protein for your pet crab.
Vegetables
While there are a few main foods you should not feed your hermit crab, you should also include some of the optional items listed below. These foods contain some nutrients and beneficial factors, and you should be sure to cover them up at night to prevent them from being eaten by bugs. You can also grind up their food in an electric coffee grinder. Some owners also recommend giving them brightly colored vegetables, including tomatoes and cucumbers.
When choosing vegetables for your hermit crab’s diet, make sure to buy organically grown versions to avoid pesticides. Many greens contain oxalic acid, which binds to calcium, rendering it indigestible for reptiles and humans. Avoid foods high in oxalic acid. Additionally, avoid fruit and vegetables that have been treated with pesticides, since these products are made to target the insect’s exoskeleton, which hermit crabs have.
Commercial crab food
While commercial crab food for land hermit crab diets are convenient and well-balanced, it’s not enough to feed your hermit crab only a commercial formula. You should also provide a variety of fresh foods, which hermit crabs love. They need a wide variety of nutrients from their diet, so you should rotate the types of foods you give them on a weekly basis. Listed below are the key nutrients your crab needs each week.
When shopping for commercial crab food, make sure to avoid foods with a high pesticide content. Thin skinned and berry-flavored products are best avoided, as these are the ones that will absorb the most pesticides. Only purchase organic products with thick rinds. Although commercial crab food for land hermit crab diet is a common option, the composition and nutrients are constantly changing. It is best to consult a veterinarian if you are uncertain of which one is best for your crab.