HCA: Hermit Crab Association

CAn the crabs eat the Cherry Blossoms that are blooming right now. I want to know so I can save some for later. Can they have the branches also because I can make ladders and bridges out of the branches? Leaves also? Thank you.

Im not asking about the fruit cherry tree. I am asking about the Cherry Blossoms tree that is blooming right now all over the DC metro area. Big difference in trees.

Cherries and other Prunus spp. contain prunasin, which breaks down into benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide as the tissues decompose. They’re toxic to mammals but whether they affect crustaceans is unknown. Many generalist insects feed on the leaves but I don’t know how they metabolize prunasin and its byproducts.


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I had a cut cherry tree in with my hermit crabs for six years with no problems. They ate the bark and the wood. Never had access to fresh leaves or flowers for the crabs, but I kept ant farms in grade school and the ants loved both so the chemicals they contain are not toxic to all arthropods.

NOT A CHERRY TREE...FRUIT TREE. A cherry BLOSSOM TREE. YOu know, the kind that blooms in spring that is all over the Washington DC area right now. The cherry blossom parade...

They’re the same thing. The genus Prunus consists of all cherry trees regardless of fruit or flowers.


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So we dont know...

No, but considering Wode’s were munching on cherry wood for years I’d imagine that the blossoms aren’t high risk.


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