Before welcoming a hermit crab into your home, understanding their dietary needs is crucial. You might be wondering, “What exactly do hermit crabs eat?”. Fortunately, feeding hermit crabs is quite straightforward. In their natural habitat, land hermit crabs are omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter. When kept as pets, their diet should mimic this natural omnivorous intake, primarily consisting of a high-quality commercial Hermit Crab Food supplemented with a variety of fresh, nutritious options and occasional treats.
This guide will delve into the specifics of hermit crab food, outlining the best food choices and what to avoid, ensuring your shelled friend thrives.
Commercial Hermit Crab Diets
Commercial hermit crab foods are specially formulated to provide a balanced nutritional foundation for your pet. While they might not always be readily available in smaller local pet stores, especially depending on your location, they are easily accessible through various online retailers.
Reputable brands like Florida Marine Research (FMR) offer a range of trusted commercial foods and treats that have been used by hermit crab enthusiasts for years. Zoo Med is another well-known manufacturer, providing pelleted diets and enticing treats designed to appeal to even the most discerning hermit crab palates.
Pelleted food should be offered daily, ideally once a day. For smaller crabs, it’s beneficial to crush the pellets into smaller, more manageable pieces. You can also slightly moisten the pellets to make them more palatable. It’s essential to remove any uneaten food, including commercial pellets, every day to maintain a clean and healthy environment for your hermit crab.
Fresh Foods and Treats for Hermit Crabs
While commercial diets offer convenience and balanced nutrition, supplementing them with fresh foods is vital. Hermit crabs are known to appreciate dietary variety. Offering a rotating selection of fresh foods from the list below will not only keep your hermit crab interested in their meals but also ensure they receive a broader spectrum of nutrients. Provide a few different options one day, and then switch to a different assortment the next, creating an exciting and diverse feeding schedule.
Here are some excellent fresh foods and treats to consider incorporating into your hermit crab’s diet:
- Fruits: Mango, papaya, coconut (fresh or dried), apples, applesauce, bananas, grapes, pineapple, strawberries, melons.
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Alt text: Close-up of dried coconut flakes, a healthy treat for hermit crabs. - Vegetables: Carrots, spinach, watercress, leafy green lettuces (excluding iceberg/head lettuce), broccoli.
- Natural Greens: Grass, leaves and strips of bark from deciduous trees (avoid conifers).
- Nuts: Unsalted nuts offer healthy fats and protein.
- Peanut Butter: Offer sparingly as an occasional treat.
- Raisins: Another sweet treat to be given in moderation.
- Seaweed: Nori seaweed, often used for sushi, is a nutritious option available in many health food and grocery stores.
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Alt text: Dried seaweed sheets, a source of minerals and fiber for hermit crab food. - Crackers: Plain crackers with no or low salt content.
- Unsweetened Cereals: Opt for cereals without added sugar.
- Plain Rice Cakes: A simple and safe treat.
- Popcorn: Plain, air-popped popcorn can be given occasionally as a fun treat.
- Cooked Protein (in moderation): Cooked eggs, meats, and seafood can be offered in small amounts.
- Freeze-Dried Options: Freeze-dried shrimp and plankton, found in the fish food section of pet stores, are excellent sources of protein.
- Live Foods: Brine shrimp and fish food flakes can also be included in their varied diet.
While this list is extensive, remember that most fruits (fresh or dried) are generally safe for hermit crabs. However, it’s often recommended to avoid highly acidic or citrus fruits like oranges, tomatoes, lemons, and limes, as these may upset their digestive system in large quantities.
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Hermit Crab
Certain foods are not suitable and can even be harmful to hermit crabs. It’s important to know what to avoid when planning your hermit crab’s diet.
Steer clear of starchy vegetables such as potatoes, as they offer minimal nutritional value for hermit crabs. Iceberg lettuce should also be avoided due to its very low nutritional content. While hermit crabs might be attracted to salty, fatty, or sugary snacks like pretzels, chips, and sweetened cereals, these are detrimental to their health and should be strictly avoided. Dairy products are also not part of a hermit crab’s natural diet and should not be offered.
The Importance of Calcium in Hermit Crab Food
Calcium is a vital nutrient for hermit crabs, essential for maintaining a healthy exoskeleton, particularly during the molting process. Providing adequate calcium in their diet is crucial for their overall well-being. Here are several effective ways to ensure your hermit crabs receive sufficient calcium:
- Cuttlebone: Readily available in pet stores (often in the bird section), cuttlebone can be provided whole for crabs to nibble on, or it can be shredded and mixed into their food.
- Calcium Vitamin Supplements: Reptile calcium supplements are also safe and beneficial for hermit crabs. These can be sprinkled on their food.
- Crushed Oyster Shell: Found in the bird section of pet stores, crushed oyster shell is an excellent natural source of calcium.
- Coral Sand: Using fine coral sand as part of the tank substrate or offering it as a supplement provides a natural calcium source.
- Crushed Egg Shells: A simple and readily available calcium source. Boil eggshells to sanitize them, then dry thoroughly, and crush them into small pieces before offering them to your crabs.
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Alt text: Crushed eggshells, a readily available source of calcium supplement for hermit crabs.
Water is Essential for Hermit Crab Health
Access to both fresh water and salt water is paramount for all hermit crab species. Fresh water is necessary for drinking. Most hermit crabs will also drink salt water, and some even enjoy bathing in it. Providing a dish of salt water large enough for them to enter is a good practice.
It’s crucial to treat all tap water with a dechlorinator (available as liquid drops in pet stores) to eliminate harmful chlorine and chloramines.
For preparing salt water, use a marine salt mix like Instant Ocean, specifically designed to mimic natural seawater. Avoid using salt intended for freshwater fish (used for treating illness) or table salt, as these lack essential components of natural saltwater. The ideal salinity level is often debated, but for most hermit crabs, following the mixing instructions to achieve the concentration suitable for a saltwater (marine) fish tank is generally appropriate. Hermit crabs will naturally regulate their intake of fresh and salt water to meet their needs.
Food and Water Dish Considerations
When choosing food and water dishes for your hermit crabs, prioritize shallow, sturdy, and easy-to-clean options. Flattened heavy plastic dishes designed to resemble rocks, often found in the reptile section of pet stores, work well. Shallow ceramic dishes intended for small animals are also suitable. Some keepers even utilize natural seashells (halved shells) as feeding dishes.
Since hermit crabs require both fresh and salt water, you’ll need two separate water dishes. These should be large and deep enough for the crabs to enter if they wish to soak, particularly the saltwater dish. However, they should also be easy to exit and not so deep that they pose a drowning risk. While some species, like strawberry hermit crabs, benefit from a deeper saltwater pool for full submersion, most species do not require such depth.
For deeper dishes, incorporating smooth river stones or pieces of coral can act as ramps or steps, aiding crabs in exiting the water. Additionally, placing natural sea sponges in both water dishes is beneficial. Hermit crabs may drink by pressing on these sponges, and they also help regulate humidity within the enclosure.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hermit Crab Food
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Can hermit crabs eat strawberries?
Yes, strawberries are a safe and enjoyable fruit for hermit crabs. -
Can hermit crabs eat apples?
Yes, apples are a nutritious fruit option among many others suitable for hermit crabs. -
Can hermit crabs eat tomatoes?
Tomatoes can be offered in very small amounts, but due to their acidity, they are not recommended as a regular part of a hermit crab’s diet. -
Can hermit crabs eat bananas?
Yes, bananas are a good and healthy fruit choice for feeding hermit crabs.
