HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi,

I am buying calcium for my hermit crab, hes molting and I am looking for places to buy. Someone from another section suggested cutterbone, and I dont know where to get it. And what can I feed him during this? Can I give him straight calcium and water and thats it? Also I was wondering what calcium powder is safe for them.

Thanks for any help.

I supplement their diet with all living things calcium powder they love to eat it and it is safe.

Okay, thanks. I will be buying it tomorrow.

If your hermit crab has buried and is molting, the most important thing is for him to eat his exoskeleton after he sheds it. When he reemerges, offer high protein foods, as well as calcium sources such as crickets, dried shrimp, fish, bits of unseasoned meat, boiled egg, eggshell, and raw organic honey. Cuttlebones are usually found by the bird supplies and are inexpensive. You can also offer smashed shells for them to pick at.



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soilentgringa wrote:You can also offer smashed shells for them to pick at.

Question.. Does it matter the type of shell?

CrabbyEmerson wrote: Question.. Does it matter the type of shell?

You can use oyster or mussel or really any shells that your crabs can't wear. I wouldn't destroy any really nice shells but ones that are already crumbly or unusable. Just put them in a ziploc bag, wrap it in a towel, set it on the floor, and smash it to death with a hammer or rolling pin. Great way to work out some unresolved aggressions lol.

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You can find cuttlebone in the bird section of the pet store, during a hermit crabs molt they eat their exoskeleton but when he comes up you can give him some cuttlebone & other nutritious foods Hope this helped.

Egg shells are another good source of calcium. Next time you scramble or fry eggs, give them a half-shell with some raw albumin (egg white) in it and watch them go to town! After they've eaten the albumin, they'll spend days picking bits of the shell to consume.

soilentgringa wrote: You can use oyster or mussel or really any shells that your crabs can't wear. I wouldn't destroy any really nice shells but ones that are already crumbly or unusable. Just put them in a ziploc bag, wrap it in a towel, set it on the floor, and smash it to death with a hammer or rolling pin. Great way to work out some unresolved aggressions lol.

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Okay, great! I bought a couple bags of shells from a discount store the other day and there were some snail shells too broken for the crabs to use, so I guess I'll smash those up for calcium! Thanks.