How much calcium is recommended?
-
Topic author - Posts: 260
- Joined: Thu May 23, 2019 5:34 pm
- Location: Texas
How much calcium is recommended?
Every day I give egg shells to my crab's as their main source of calcium but I was wondering if that is enough for them? Or should I also be giving them calcium carbonate? I'm aware that crabs like variety and have purchased some exo from TheHealthyHermit as well as looking into my other options.
Basically, I'm wanting to make sure that what I'm using would be enough for my crabs or should I also be substituting with calcium carbonate because it's so concentrated? Thank's much for any replies!
Basically, I'm wanting to make sure that what I'm using would be enough for my crabs or should I also be substituting with calcium carbonate because it's so concentrated? Thank's much for any replies!
8 crabs at the moment "Tarzan, Kermit, Shy guy, Eduardo, Jimbo, Rosa, Diesel, Treaker"
-
- Posts: 3029
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:41 pm
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
I always have a cuttlebone in their tanks. I also sometimes scatter crushed oyster shell. And give them eggshell every couple of weeks with their food.
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 3889
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
I also keep Cuttlebone in the tank all the time. I give eggshell now and then, and a 'calcium mix' I ordered from Chubby Crab or from HCP.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers
-
- Posts: 1343
- Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2016 12:02 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Contact:
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
Like the above, I also have a cuttlebone in the tank at all times, I’ll also offer things such as eggshells, cicada shells, oyster shells, etc. on occasion.
4 PPs + 1 E = Dusty, Momo, Merle, Seasalt, & Elvis
2 Captive Bred PPs = Randy & Roxie
75 Gallon Crabitat | Crabbing Since 8.11.2015
https://www.instagram.com/pinchersandshells/
2 Captive Bred PPs = Randy & Roxie
75 Gallon Crabitat | Crabbing Since 8.11.2015
https://www.instagram.com/pinchersandshells/
-
- Posts: 2378
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 9:56 pm
- Location: Coal Region in Pennsylvania
- Contact:
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
We keep a calcium pit/ dish, in our tanks at all times. Depending on it's location in the tank it may last a week until it needs to be changed. We rotate through 3-4 of these options every few days. egg shells, several crab exo mixes, crushed cattle bone, several powdered fish bone mixes, different sizes of oyster shells, calcium carbonate and azomite. We will also toss in some type of flowers to give off a smell. Our crabs seem to really enjoy the variety.
Coenobita Curiosities offering crabby decor
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoenobitaCuriosities
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoenobitaCuriosities
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
I always have a dish (a large seashell) filled with small cuttlebones, crab exos and small seashells (I can get them from the beach), and I leave it in until it's mostly eaten up.
I occasionally put in an egg shell with a bit of left raw egg when I prepare eggs for myself.
The crabs enjoy it and appear really healthy with a hard exoskeleton (I don't handle them, but I had to pick up one guy a few days ago). We never had any problems regarding molting/health.
In addition to the egg shells you mentioned as main source, I would add some marine sources, such as cuttlebones, tiny sea shells and - if you can get them - crab exos. If you don't live by the sea: cuttlebones are available in the bird aisle of most pet stores, tiny seashells/ puka mix are available in the fish aisle. Don't use puka mix from craft stores as it's often dyed. Crab exoskeletons are harder to get when not living near a beach; I would not use exoskeletons from prawns (the leftover shells from a seafood dish for humans) and so on because they are likely treated with antibiotics.
I occasionally put in an egg shell with a bit of left raw egg when I prepare eggs for myself.
The crabs enjoy it and appear really healthy with a hard exoskeleton (I don't handle them, but I had to pick up one guy a few days ago). We never had any problems regarding molting/health.
In addition to the egg shells you mentioned as main source, I would add some marine sources, such as cuttlebones, tiny sea shells and - if you can get them - crab exos. If you don't live by the sea: cuttlebones are available in the bird aisle of most pet stores, tiny seashells/ puka mix are available in the fish aisle. Don't use puka mix from craft stores as it's often dyed. Crab exoskeletons are harder to get when not living near a beach; I would not use exoskeletons from prawns (the leftover shells from a seafood dish for humans) and so on because they are likely treated with antibiotics.
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 7242
- Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:56 pm
- Location: Florida
- Contact:
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
I personally always keep calcium choices available for crabs. I keep a calcium dish and cuttlebone available at all times.
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com
-
- Posts: 111
- Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2019 6:03 am
- Location: Staten Island NY
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
Hey Pincher - I started using cuttlebones, do you grind up and keep some powder/mini chunks?Pincher wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2019 11:08 pmIn addition to the egg shells you mentioned as main source, I would add some marine sources, such as cuttlebones, tiny sea shells and - if you can get them - crab exos. If you don't live by the sea: cuttlebones are available in the bird aisle of most pet stores, tiny seashells/ puka mix are available in the fish aisle. Don't use puka mix from craft stores as it's often dyed. Crab exoskeletons are harder to get when not living near a beach; I would not use exoskeletons from prawns (the leftover shells from a seafood dish for humans) and so on because they are likely treated with antibiotics.
And tiny sea shells?? They EAT them??
-
Topic author - Posts: 260
- Joined: Thu May 23, 2019 5:34 pm
- Location: Texas
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
I forgot I keep cuttlebone as well lol.
8 crabs at the moment "Tarzan, Kermit, Shy guy, Eduardo, Jimbo, Rosa, Diesel, Treaker"
-
- Posts: 3029
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:41 pm
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
Many of us just stick the cuttlebone standing up in the ground. Do that gently in case of tunnels, caves. You can just lay it down. You can break it into chunks. You can also use crushed oyster shells which you can get at a feed store.KrankyKrab wrote: ↑Tue Sep 17, 2019 7:36 amHey Pincher - I started using cuttlebones, do you grind up and keep some powder/mini chunks?
And tiny sea shells?? They EAT them??
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 3889
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
Now that my crabs are bigger, it's kind of fun to see just how much Cuttlebone they can chew off! I swear Sonny ate half a surf-board when he came up from his last molt.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers
-
- Posts: 3029
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:41 pm
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
Or maybe he buried it.curlysister wrote: ↑Tue Sep 17, 2019 2:26 pmNow that my crabs are bigger, it's kind of fun to see just how much Cuttlebone they can chew off! I swear Sonny ate half a surf-board when he came up from his last molt.
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 3889
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
LOL! No, I watched it go from a whole surf-board, to a half! Every time I checked on them, there was Sonny, munching away on it! What was left was all chewed up with big chunks missing.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
KrankyKrab wrote: ↑Tue Sep 17, 2019 7:36 amHey Pincher - I started using cuttlebones, do you grind up and keep some powder/mini chunks?
And tiny sea shells?? They EAT them??
I had rather big crabs ("had" means: we recently moved cross-country and the crabs were adopted by somebody else).
They had about 1.5 (for the smallest) to 2 inch shell openings, so really huge guys. However, when we got them, their shells were not bigger than typical marbles.
The cuttlebones I used were smaller than the ones you get at a pet shop, as I lived close to the beach. They were about 1/4 the size of pet shop cuttlebones. They eat the cuttlebones, as well as the sea shells or crab carapaces. They scrape off a tiny bit and eat that. After having the cuttlebones in the tank for a few weeks, I recognized grooves on the surface of the cuttlebones, and soon more was chipped away, clear signs they nibble on the cuttlebones. After a while, the cuttlebones looked like an arrowhead. The small sea shells also looked damaged after a while and I saw them nibbling on them
I never grind up food. (If they are not "baby" hermit crabs, they can use their claws... And I think animals/pets should have some activity when eating their food, like in nature - then they get less bored. The same was true for other pets I had.) The only thing I was tearing in pieces was food they tend to hide and that can get mouldy soon. E.g., instead of popcorn (always without salt, without sugar, without butter etc. of course) in whole, I ripped each popcorn in two or three pieces. Also for nuts, instead of offering whole cracked nuts (the edible part in one piece), I usually cracked the edible part of the nut in a few pieces. When doing so, the crabs tended to eat their food in or around the food bowl and not walking away with it, eating it in some hide and then forget about it.
-
- Posts: 373
- Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2019 11:37 am
Re: How much calcium is recommended?
Cuttlebone and Eggshell I believe is the best way to go, I don't know about mineral blocks because I've never tried them. Not knowing if it was actually as "good" for them as the pet stores say.
Sent from my LGL158VL using Tapatalk
Sent from my LGL158VL using Tapatalk
(Scuttle, Crusty) crabs, (Buster,Ruby) chihuahuas, (Bugs) goat, (Echo) betta fish (Skittles,Sky) parakeets
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life"
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life"