HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Can anyone tell me a good place to buy food? I've seen people mention the HCP and Etsy pages (not sure of the name though).

I need some kind of calcium I think too, since I don't have anything other than a couple egg shells and a oyster she'll as a food dish.

Also, what is leaf litter and where can I get some? I have trees around but not sure what kind they are?

Thank you in advance

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Crabsalicious wrote:Can anyone tell me a good place to buy food? I've seen people mention the HCP and Etsy pages (not sure of the name though).

I need some kind of calcium I think too, since I don't have anything other than a couple egg shells and a oyster she'll as a food dish.

Also, what is leaf litter and where can I get some? I have trees around but not sure what kind they are?

Thank you in advance

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If you have a walmart, they now have wardleys dried shrimp for like $3 for a small tube. They also have dried crickets sometimes as well as blood worms.

You can get eggs, and just scramble an egg for them, shell and all. The shell will provide calcium.

You can feed your crabs well without ever having to pay for specialty "hermit food" brands but my crabs really love:

Hermit Crab Garden
Hermies Kitchen (Etsy)
Hermit Crab Patch

Other people I trust are:

Claw of the Wild
Crabotanicals
(Have not purchased but they are crabbers who have both been active in crab forums and are dedicated to providing crabs with great care and food options.)



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soilentgringa wrote:

Crabsalicious wrote:Can anyone tell me a good place to buy food? I've seen people mention the HCP and Etsy pages (not sure of the name though).

I need some kind of calcium I think too, since I don't have anything other than a couple egg shells and a oyster she'll as a food dish.

Also, what is leaf litter and where can I get some? I have trees around but not sure what kind they are?

Thank you in advance

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If you have a walmart, they now have wardleys dried shrimp for like $3 for a small tube. They also have dried crickets sometimes as well as blood worms.

You can get eggs, and just scramble an egg for them, shell and all. The shell will provide calcium.

You can feed your crabs well without ever having to pay for specialty "hermit food" brands but my crabs really love:

Hermit Crab Garden
Hermies Kitchen (Etsy)
Hermit Crab Patch

Other people I trust are:

Claw of the Wild
Crabotanicals
(Have not purchased but they are crabbers who have both been active in crab forums and are dedicated to providing crabs with great care and food options.)



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Thank you!!! I do have a Walmart. Is it in the fishing section?

This list is soooo helpful, thank you so much for replying!

Can I feed raw shrimp raw scallops and cooked snowcrab legs?

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Crabsalicious wrote:Thank you!!! I do have a Walmart. Is it in the fishing section?

WITH THE PET SUPPLIES. LOOK WHERE THEY KEEP THE AQUARIUM STUFF.

This list is soooo helpful, thank you so much for replying!

ALSO LIKE TO ADD THE HAPPY HERMIT SUPPLY, THE HEALTHY HERMIT, & CRABVILLA... ALL ON ETSY.

Can I feed raw shrimp raw scallops and cooked snowcrab legs?

YES; JUST MAKE SURE IT'S UNSEASONED

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daws409 wrote:

Crabsalicious wrote:Thank you!!! I do have a Walmart. Is it in the fishing section?

WITH THE PET SUPPLIES. LOOK WHERE THEY KEEP THE AQUARIUM STUFF.

This list is soooo helpful, thank you so much for replying!

ALSO LIKE TO ADD THE HAPPY HERMIT SUPPLY, THE HEALTHY HERMIT, & CRABVILLA... ALL ON ETSY.

Can I feed raw shrimp raw scallops and cooked snowcrab legs?

YES; JUST MAKE SURE IT'S UNSEASONED

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Perfect, thanks again!

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Crabsalicious wrote:
I need some kind of calcium I think too, since I don't have anything other than a couple egg shells and a oyster she'll as a food dish.

Also, what is leaf litter and where can I get some? I have trees around but not sure what kind they are?

I got a mix of leaves from the Hermit Crab Patch. It's labeled as Sub Mix. My crabs seem to love it. For calcium, the HCP also has an oyster shell supplement that I scatter in the substrate and I also have pieces of cuttlebone for them that I got in the bird section of the pet store.

Thanks! I ordered the sub mix and oyster powder from thcp and it just came in today! Funny I saw the cuttle bone in Petco the other day and was confused if it was the right thing to buy since it was in the bird section. I guess you answered that question too! Lol thanks again

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Crabsalicious wrote:Thanks! I ordered the sub mix and oyster powder from thcp and it just came in today! Funny I saw the cuttle bone in Petco the other day and was confused if it was the right thing to buy since it was in the bird section. I guess you answered that question too! Lol thanks again

No problem! I know some cuttlebone comes with a little metal attachment (probably for the birdcage), but I break off the top and bottom of the cuttlebone to use for the crabs and toss the metal because I've read metal is bad for hermit crabs. If you've already heard this, sorry to repeat, but I wanted to mention it just in case.

While I've ordered from HCP and other crab devoted sites, I will admit that I get a lot of my supplies from a website called drsfostersmith. They have some single ingredient cat treats (salmon, chicken, shrimp) that the crabs love, and if you do a search for "freeze-dried," you will find a lot of freeze dried insects and vegetables that are intended for Birds. They will also have cuttlebones and other supplies that you might need.

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KH02 wrote:

Crabsalicious wrote:Thanks! I ordered the sub mix and oyster powder from thcp and it just came in today! Funny I saw the cuttle bone in Petco the other day and was confused if it was the right thing to buy since it was in the bird section. I guess you answered that question too! Lol thanks again

No problem! I know some cuttlebone comes with a little metal attachment (probably for the birdcage), but I break off the top and bottom of the cuttlebone to use for the crabs and toss the metal because I've read metal is bad for hermit crabs. If you've already heard this, sorry to repeat, but I wanted to mention it just in case.

Yeah, the metal part on the cuttlebone was kind of the final thing that made me say, ummmm....ill just hold off for now lol. I may go back and get some though. Its funny how that one little thing is not something I am alone in regarding the cuttle bone at petco. I have read that metal is bad for them too, but never hurts to have a reminder

jclee wrote:While I've ordered from HCP and other crab devoted sites, I will admit that I get a lot of my supplies from a website called drsfostersmith. They have some single ingredient cat treats (salmon, chicken, shrimp) that the crabs love, and if you do a search for "freeze-dried," you will find a lot of freeze dried insects and vegetables that are intended for Birds. They will also have cuttlebones and other supplies that you might need.

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I will definitely check the website out - thanks for the tips on searching for freeze dried. Didn't realize you could give them cat treats...I assume it is because they are single ingredients, and not a bunch of ingredients in them.....

Yes, it's a particular brand called single ingredient that is freeze dried without preservatives. I'll see if I can find you a link when I have a chance.

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Here you go:

http://m.drsfostersmith.com/product/pro ... atid=29924

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jclee wrote:Here you go:

http://m.drsfostersmith.com/product/pro ... atid=29924

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Thank you so much!

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You're welcome! My crabs love these, as well as the freeze-dried corn I got. I think it was meant as a bird treat, but the crabs don't seem to mind.

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