Hermit Crab is eating moss and soil

[SpookySoulGeek]

Hi, so my hermit crab, who's pretty active, gets fresh fruit, dried mealworms, deli turkey, eggs, veggies, grains, and eggshells, and red seaweed, seems to really like to eat moss and soil (worm castings, rich dark soil), and I'm just wantingto make sure that's normal. They get fresh treated water (with prime), salt water (instant ocean). Also they seem to like to eat palm leaves sometimes too. I put moss in for the first time i na while and he ate it all in one sitting,along with some soil (worm castings and the soil my separate (different enclosure) isopods composted. He also likes to eat acorns. Is there a possible nutrient he might be missing?

[curlysister]

All the foods, including leaves and acorns and worm castings are part of a varied diet. Very normal for him to eat all of those things.

[sophie_rice]

That’s very normal and very healthy! In fact, worm castings are recommended to be available for crabs as one of their 24/7 foods (like greensand) and moss is also really healthy.

[curlysister]

That’s very normal and very healthy! In fact, worm castings are recommended to be available for crabs as one of their 24/7 foods (like greensand) and moss is also really healthy.

While crabs do like and eat both of those foods, there aren't actually an '24/7' foods that must be in the tank all the time for crab health. A varied diet can include those, but it certainly does not need to. Crabs will get all the nutrition they need by feeding a varied diet.

[SpookySoulGeek]

thank you, yeah i wanted to make sure if was safe ofr him to eat so much of it because it seemed like he was eating alot of the moss and soil.

[sophie_rice]

While crabs do like and eat both of those foods, there aren't actually an '24/7' foods that must be in the tank all the time for crab health. A varied diet can include those, but it certainly does not need to. Crabs will get all the nutrition they need by feeding a varied diet.

Yes, definitely not essential. But my crabs love it and it’s really nutritious so I include it almost all the time