What Food Do Hermit Crabs Eat?

what food do hermit crabs eat

Hermit crabs can eat a variety of vegetables and fruits. They may even like to snack on salty, fatty, and sugary foods. However, they should not be fed with dairy products. If you have a hermit crab, you should always keep a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables available. You can also feed your hermit crab with eggs, nuts, and seeds. For more information, read this article.

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Contents

Eggs

You can give your pet hermit crab eggs as a treat. Eggs are a good source of protein for your pet crab and they can easily digest them. Another good option is to feed your pet dried fish or freeze-dried. Vegetables are another great source of protein. Some vegetables you can feed your pet include broccoli, kale, spinach, lentils, millet, soy beans, cucumbers, dark green lettuce, and snap peas. Try to feed your pet hermit crab with organic products to avoid harmful chemicals.

Fruits

Whether you’re an owner of a hermit crab or not, you should know that they love fruit. Not only do they taste great, but fruits provide vitamins and other nutrients that your crab will need. While you may not be able to give your crab fresh fruits on a regular basis, your hermit crab will benefit from a few small portions every day. Fruits are also a great source of fiber and protein.

Nuts

Hermit crabs love to eat nuts. Whether they’re bare bones or a mixture of nuts, the crabs will find it very appetizing. You can also include citrus fruits in their diet. However, don’t give them any butter or sauce. Some nuts and fruit flavors are also very delicious to hermit crabs. Other treats that your crab will enjoy are popcorn, applesauce, peanut butter, and cereal.

Seeds

Hermit crabs love to eat seeds and other kinds of vegetables. They are highly nutritious and rich in healthy fats. Hermit crabs can also eat plant litter and fibers from woods. Woods such as Maple and Birch are perfectly safe for hermit crabs to eat. Other kinds of fruit and vegetables that your hermit crab will love include bananas, papaya, mango, and various types of berries. However, you should be careful not to overdo it with dried fruit as it can be too sweet for hermit crabs. Also, you can provide seeds and small amounts of nuts, like pecans and walnuts, which are both nutritious and tasty for hermit crabs.

Shrimp tails

The commercial diets for hermit crabs are a convenient way to feed your pet. While they are well balanced, you should always supplement them with fresh foods to maintain a healthy diet. Hermit crabs are happy to eat a variety of foods, so make sure to rotate their diet regularly. For example, shrimp tails are an excellent food for hermit crabs, and shrimp are a natural preservative.

Celery sticks

Hermit crabs are decapod crustaceans that belong to the superfamily Paguroidea. Most species have a long spirally curved abdomen that conceals their abdomen in a scavenged mollusc shell. While they can be quite picky about what they eat, they can still eat celery leaves and stalks. They may get choosy if you give them too much celery, but you can’t go wrong with it as long as you don’t feed them too much.

Fish flakes

Crabs enjoy eating a wide variety of foods, so it’s important to provide a varied diet. Fish flakes and fish meal are both popular, but you can also provide your crab with other food sources, including raw meat, marrow, and skin. Raw fish is also an excellent choice, as long as it is free of any additives. You can find fish flakes in many places, including grocery stores, pet stores, and even online.

Popcorn

Hermit crabs love popcorn. You can buy plain corn kernels in bulk sections of grocery stores. In addition to popcorn, hermit crabs can eat other kinds of food. Some of the vegetables that your hermit crabs enjoy eating include carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, dark green lettuce, and sea vegetables. However, you should avoid offering them popcorn made with salt as these contain chemicals that your hermit crab won’t be able to digest.

Wood

Hermit crabs are known to love wood. However, not all wood is safe for them. Some woods contain toxins that cause respiratory problems and lung damage. Hermit crabs are not good candidates for eating pine, acorns, or other evergreen woods. Instead, choose the woods that are safe for them, like birch, maple, and grapevine. Coconuts, mangoes, papayas, and other fruits and vegetables are also ideal for hermit crabs. They can also eat nuts, but you must make sure they are salt-free.