Hermit crabs are notoriously picky creatures. There are several food options for your pets, but you’ll want to make sure they’re pre-killed before feeding them. It’s also important to provide fresh water, and replace the food regularly. Fortunately, the food selections in pet stores and online stores are quite varied.
Contents
Fruit
Fruit is an important part of the diet of hermit crabs, and some types are better for your pet than others. Apples are a popular choice, as both the skin and the inside are nutritious for your crabs. However, you should avoid using the cores of the fruit, which contain cyanide. Apples are also very inexpensive and easy to obtain. Crabs are attracted to limonene, which breaks down quickly in fruit peels as they age.
Hermit crabs need a variety of nutrients in their diet, so you must ensure that you give them a varied diet that is low in fat and salt. You can provide a variety of healthy foods and vegetables, while also avoiding spicy or acidic foods. Nevertheless, bland foods are safe for your hermit crabs.
Vegetables
Crabs love a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, but some prefer sugary, fatty, and salty snacks. You can also add some vegetables to their diets. Avoid giving your crabs dairy products. Some vegetables are toxic to crabs. You can give them fresh fruit as a treat.
The best vegetables to feed hermit crabs are carrots, cucumber, and bell pepper. Other vegetables are cereal, green beans, and leafy vegetables. Providing a variety of fresh produce is an essential part of hermit crab care.
Fish flakes
Hermit crabs need a diet that’s rich in calcium and protein. This includes meat and fish. They also like nuts and leafy greens. Fresh fruit is also a popular choice. Hermit crabs also love to eat wood and moss. They can even eat a plant-based diet, but the best way to ensure that your pet crabs are getting the right diet is to make sure you’re doing your research.
Hermit crabs should be fed a diet that’s varied and includes animal protein, fat, calcium, and grains. They also enjoy dried fruit, but should be given sparingly. If you’re concerned about the salt content of their food, you can attach a desiccant packet to the lid and keep it out of their reach. You should give your hermit crabs one spoonful of this mix per feeding bowl.
Popcorn
Hermit crabs are omnivores and can be fed a variety of foods. Their diet should contain a good balance of animal proteins, grains, fats, and calcium. You can add small amounts of sweet things, like dried fruit, but it is important to make sure that you don’t overfeed them. It’s best to purchase organic products if possible, as they contain no chemicals. Other acceptable food items include cucumbers, dark green lettuce, berries, citrus fruits, and sea vegetables.
You can buy commercial crab food for your pet at pet stores. Be sure to choose products without pesticides or copper sulfate, since these chemicals can harm your crabs’ health. You can also give them vegetables and fruits, which are high in vitamins and minerals. However, make sure to wash the vegetables thoroughly before serving them to avoid pesticides. Crabs can also be fed wood.
Cuttlefish skeleton
Feeding hermit crabs the skeleton of a cuttlefish is a good way to give them plenty of calcium. A cuttlefish skeleton can be ground into powder and sprinkled over their food, or you can place it whole in their cage. This type of food is not essential, and the most effective alternative is ground calcium carbonate, but cuttlebones can provide an interesting enrichment and nutrition option for your hermit crabs.
Cuttlefish are seafloor dwellers that live in tropical and temperate waters. They can reach depths of nearly 3,300 feet. Their shells, or “cuttlebones,” are made from modified calcareous material that enables them to float and feed. Recent genetic studies have revealed that cuttlefish have the same genetic makeup as squids.
Wood
Some of the best sources for wood to feed hermit crabs include the bark of trees such as oak and maple. However, poplar wood is not a good choice as it is brittle and snaps easily. Another wood option is sycamore, which is cheaper and easily available. Sycamores also produce bark that can be used as wood substitute.
Hermit crabs love eating decayed wood, which is easily chewed by these animals. Dead animals are also great food for them, as they provide them with valuable nutrients. In the wild, hermit crabs also eat fish and shrimp carcasses, which provide them with plenty of protein. Other foods that you can give them are vegetables and fruits, which are rich in vitamins and minerals. You should wash the vegetables thoroughly before serving them to avoid the presence of pesticides or herbicides. Apart from these foods, hermit crabs can also feed on wood, which provides a good balance of nutrients for their bodies.
