In: Food and Nutrition
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Written by Julia Crab Sunday, 07 August 2005 This list contains foods that are moderate to high in beta carotene: apricots bell pepper of any color, red being the highest in carotenids blueberries broccoli cantaloupe carrot chard cilantro (raw) collard greens dandelion greens (raw) fava beans in the pod (raw) grape leaves (raw) lettuce (dark varieties, not iceburg which is nutritionally empty) mango papaya parsley (raw) passionfruit peaches peas persimmon pineapple pumpkin and squash, and seeds (dried) snap beans (raw) spinach spirulina seaweeds and microalgaes sweet potato Astaxanthin is another carotenid found in shrimp and krill and red seaweeds, that the crabs also use. TanninRead More →

In: Food and Nutrition
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The information that was used as a basis for this article was intended for humans not hermit crabs. We have adapted the list of edible flowers to what we believe is safe for hermit crabs. Some may be safe for external remedies but not for consumption. Written by Julia Crab Monday, 23 May 2005 Did you know that flowers are good for crabs? They contain vitamin C as well as vitamin A and many of the pigmentation substances such as beta carotene. As there has been no study done on the nutritional content of flowers, much of their value remains a mystery. But crabs willRead More →

In: Food and Nutrition
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Written by Vanessa Pike Russell 2004 I have done some research on colour enhancing foods and figuring out how to get crabs a certain colour. If you want really dark brown colour hermit crabs then give them lots of foods rich in tannins such as Brown Oak Leaves, Brown Oak Bark (pesticide free). This comes from Carol of CrabWorks. Her hermit crabs have been eating this since they were itty bitty crabbies, 28+ years ago! https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/ethnobotany/tannins.shtml If you want orange hues that foods such as carrots, marigold petals have been known to create an increase in orange colour. Foods rich in Astaxanthin are what youRead More →

In: Food and Nutrition
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Hermit crabs are omnivorous scavengers in the wild. There are lots of different foods that a hermit crab can eat. We have several different food lists for commonly fed items. Check out a few of the atypical things that hermit crabs can eat: Feces – herbivorous animal droppings. In Quirimba hermit crabs are known to eat human waste as well.Fish flakes or pellets – only if they are free of ethoxyquin, (usually found in fish meal) and copper sulfate. Both are toxic.BloodwormsMealwormsEarthwormsCuttlebone – great source of calciumBonemeal – great source of calciumCicadas and their exoskeletons (most other bugs too)Worm castingsGreensand References https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327147202_Ethoxyquin_a_feed_additive_poses_a_risk_for_aquatic_life http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/carbaryl-dicrotophos/copper-sulfate-ext.htmlRead More →

In: Food and Nutrition
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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. 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 aboutreplace commercial diet)Rooibos (high in many nutrients, and vitamin C)Dandelion leaf and rootFlax seed or seed mealRed raspberry leaf Add aRead More →

In: Food and Nutrition
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With a small seed sprouter and some seeds you can easily grow a mini garden of tasty and tender sprout shoots to feed your hermit crabs. This could be an easy way to provide some fresh food while you are on vacation. If you use some time of eco earth substrate you may be able to get some seeds to sprout directly in the tank, assuming the crabbies don’t eat the seeds before the get going. Sprinkle the seeds on the surface of the substrate and mist them with dechlorinated water each day until they begin to sprout. The crabs will likely start munching onRead More →

In: Food and Nutrition
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Unfortunately I have no indications as to who may have created this list though I suspect the list came from Kerie Campbell. I know there are endless food ideas but these may help get you started. Fruity Fish & Flowers II dried calendula (about 2 tsp.) dried chamomile (about 1 tsp.) coconut chunk large papaya chunk pink flame rose bud Kibble and place in the serving dish. Air-pop about 1 Tbl. amaranth shred some dulse 1 Tbl. Flott tuna 1 tsp rolled oats large pinch dandelion root large pinch dried dandelion leaf. Kibble and place on top of the fruit dish, sort of a reverse-chutney.Read More →

In: Food and Nutrition
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Feeding your hermit crab a balanced diet as they would experience in the wild is vital to their ongoing health. We highly recommend keeping worm castings, calcium, and greensand on hand and in your tank daily. This chart breaks down the nutritional needs and includes some food suggestions. Hermit Crab Nutrition Table by Lisa Loeske. Our LHCOS approved Hermit Crab Feeding Guide: What’s for Dinner? A hermit crab food guide. Also check out Kilimanjaro’s Guide to Hermit Crab NutritionRead More →

In: FAQ, Food and Nutrition, General
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written by Jennifer Nielsen The existence of an ocean water dish is a source of great controversy in the world of hermit crab owners. Why the importance of this type of water is rarely debated, it seems that the products used in the creation of Ocean Water are the source of much debate. Just as all hermit crab owners know not to use table salt for their crabs, there are two types of salt available for aquarium use. Fresh Saltwater as well as Ocean Water Salt, which although made of the same components have vastly different role within the world of fish keeping. A saltwaterRead More →

In: FAQ, Food and Nutrition
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Hermit crab enthusiast Jennifer Nielsen compares several brands of sea salt mix in this article. Written by Jennifer Nielsen (aka redjln) While many hermit crab owners realize the importance of providing Ocean Water to their pets, there is a question over which type and which specific product is the best. To answer this, I got Instant Ocean and Reef Crystals enriched blend by Aquarium Systems, Doc Wellfish’s Aquarium Salt, and Aquarium Salt by Jungle. I have gotten a container of Distilled Water to test the products in. Now, I will disclaim right now that I do not have access to a laboratory of equipment. AllRead More →