What fruits and vegetables can hermit crabs ingest? Crabs are very picky, but there are some things you can give them. Fresh fruit is best, especially those that are wrinkled and mushy. This is because the sugars and terpenoids in the fruit change as they age. It’s best to leave citrus fruits to wrinkle naturally, because the peels contain limonene, an insect repellent that crabs find attractive.
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Popcorn
Hermit crabs love to eat popcorn. Popcorn is a healthy food for hermit crabs. You can cook popcorn using pure oil and forget about the salt. Human grade salt is not healthy for hermit crabs as it contains chemicals and anti-caking agents. Hermit crabs need fresh, dechlorinated water. They also need a salt water mix formulated for aquariums. Do not use “hermit crab salt,” as it contains no nutrients.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are an excellent addition to the diet of hermit crabs. They contain significant amounts of potassium and beta-carotene, two essential nutrients that your pet needs. Tomatoes are best fed raw, but cooked versions can also be given. The amount of tomato your hermit crab can eat depends on its weight, age and overall health condition. To increase their intake of tomatoes, add them to a small portion of the food dish every day.
Onions
Hermit crabs like to eat any vegetable that they can get their hands on, including vegetables that are grown in the garden. These vegetables are rich in nutrition, but some can also pose a threat to the crabs’ health, such as onions, which belong to the allium family. Onions contain sulfur, which is toxic to hermit crabs. Tomatoes, on the other hand, belong to the nightshade family, which contains alkaloids. Both types of plants are dangerous for hermit crabs.
Potatoes
Hermit crabs can eat a variety of vegetables and fruits, such as potatoes. Ideally, these vegetables should be cooked so that they are free of pesticides and should be cut into small pieces. Keep the stems and green skin of potatoes away from your pet. Radishes are another vegetable that hermit crabs love. Although they have very little nutritional value, radishes are a great training tool and contain high levels of Vitamin C.
Yams
Hermit crabs can eat a variety of different vegetables, such as carrots, green beans, and cucumbers. They are omnivores, so they also enjoy eating other insects such as fruit flies and grasshoppers. These can be a great treat for your crab, but be sure to dehydrate them first. Hermit crabs prefer brightly colored vegetables, such as oranges, yellows, and reds.
Zucchini
Aside from being delicious, zucchini is also highly nutritious for hermit crabs. In fact, zucchini is the most commonly consumed vegetable by humans, and it can be used to make muffins. A variety of vegetables can also be used to make courgetti, a vegetable-based form of spaghetti. Hermit crabs will enjoy snatching at the strips and will appreciate the vitamins and minerals they provide. Hermit crabs can eat tomatoes and bell peppers but it is best to cut these fruits and vegetables up in smaller amounts so that hermit crabs can enjoy them more.
Peppers
Peppers are an excellent source of carotenoids and antioxidants that hermit crabs love. They also contain a high percentage of protein. However, they should never be fed rotten tomatoes, as this will cause distress. Hermit crabs can eat just about any type of vegetable, and they prefer those that are colorful, sweet, and crunchy. Here are some examples of vegetables that your hermit crabs will love:
