written by Kerie Campbell 2005
If you’ve decided to get rid of commercial diet completely, and go natural, here is a list of the recommended human-grade beginner foods. These are the highest in nutrition and will make a good base for adding fresh fruit, vegetables and meat too.
When you are ready to expand your knowledge of hermit crab nutrition check out our Hermit Crab Feeding Guide.
- Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (olive oil will do in a pinch) for cooking eggs, etc.
- Hemp seed meal (very high in HUFAs, and extremely nutritious)
- Spirulina (if you can get only one algae product, this alone can just about
- replace commercial diet)
- Rooibos (high in many nutrients, and vitamin C)
- Dandelion leaf and root
- Flax seed or seed meal
- Red raspberry leaf
Add a couple of the following dried flowers or flower products:
- rose hips and petals
- chamomile
- clover
- calendula
- jasmine
- hibiscus
Add some dried fruit (unsweetened and free of sulfur dioxide or other additives):
- pineapple
- coconut
- raisins
- persimmon
- If there is still room for more purchases, here is the list I recommend you choose from:
- amaranth or quinoa
- almonds or walnuts
- raw pumpkin or sunflower seed
- blue corn meal
- kelp powder
- wheat germ
- chlorella or blue-green algae
The more variety you can provide your crabs, the better they will eat. This list represents the most nutritious foods on the main Epicurean Hermit food list. They will have the highest impact when mixed and offered with fresh foods, and will provide an excellent base for creating homemade crab food.
We highly recommend keeping worm castings and greensand on hand and in your tank daily. Both are highly nutritious and are loved by hermit crabs.
