What do you feed your hermit crab?

United States
June 24, 2007 1:19am CST
What does everyone feed their hermit crab? I have seen on numerous sites that commercial food is not good for them. Every once in a while I see something rebutting this, but the argument does not seem that strong. I started making my own organic hermit crab food & have gotten carried away. I get organic food from one of the health markets here, & my food dehydrator runs almost non-stop!! What are your crabs favorites? Anything unusual? Mine seem to really like flowers: crab apple blossoms, lilacs, roses, carnations, grape leaves, dandelions, etc. They also really like bananas, coconut, & a fruit mix I make for them. It has around 10 different dried fruits that I put into the mix. They also like dried salmon. I made a staple food that has a bit of everything they need in it. It is very "stinky," but they always go for it!! I would like to hear some specifics though. What do your crabs love? What do you love to give them? Is there something that they like, but is hard or time consuming to prepare? Where do you shop for your hermit crab food? Pet store, do you make it yourself, online, etc. I make mine & sell it on ebay.com, ecrater.com, & plunderhere.com. I have had nothing but good responses to the food I make. How important is it that they get a fresh food every day? I have tons of dried food for them, but find it harder to get good fresh foods that are small enough for them. Three of mine are just little guys, so I like to grind their food up. I just got a couple of bigger ones, so I'm excited to see what new things they will like. I think it will be neat to see them eating. Let me know what you think & what you do!!
4 responses
@Asheka (107)
• Canada
2 Oct 07
I mostly feed mine a very cool, and healthy, pellet type food from a specialist for hermit crabs. I then have coconut slices, mango slices, some nuts and seeds, exotic flower petals, and some "spices" specially made up for hermies.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
2 Nov 07
Can you mention place to get this food? I go to PetSmart and they don't have anything but the generic jarred "comes with the kit" food. I'd like to give them more and apples and grapes aren't much in season all the time. Any suggestions?
• United States
17 Mar 10
I don't feed fresh food all the time. I feed a variety of dried foods but I do throw in the occasional fresh food. I give them bananas, apples, sometimes chicken and other products. I feel as long as they are getting their nutrients, there isn't much of a difference in what you feed them. I mostly get my food from hermit crab addiction.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
22 Oct 07
I have the store bought food, but they like apples and grapes - apples cut into tiny pieces and the grapes peeled. However, what do you do when they dig under and stay ther for days and days and don't seem to come up for air muchless food! I love my crabs - I am going through empty nest syndrome and my grand daughter had some and she liked them so i got some too! Now i have 2 more kids. What do you do about the smell of the damp/moist sand/wood? I have it clean and a water sponge and all the right stuff, but the musty moist smell gets annoying sometimes.
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
27 Sep 08
Mine loved bananas!