HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Unorganic inorganic? ahahaha

Are there any foods safe for hermies that are not organic.?

Im struggling to find organic foods where I live! Just wondering,

Thanks for your help!

Organic foods are easy to come by where I live but are far more expensive than their "regular" counterparts. The only item priced the same is kale so I opt for the organic there. I serve my crabs, mice and dog the same fruits and veggies that I eat, all thoroughly washed and scrubbed, and none of us seem any the worse for it.

Organic is best when and if you can. Hermits can be easily affected by pesticides and there is substantial residue on normal fruits and veggies. If you can't afford or can't find organic, wash things well and stick to items you can peel for them as that will remove most of the residue.

Also wanted to point out that since hermits eat so little, the extra cost can be easily justified by cutting up the fruit and freezing it flat on a plate or cookie sheet before bagging it up. For four hermits, one organic apple is easily 20 meals!

I also wanted to point out that if you're in Canada, and the organic food is coming from another country, it is sprayed when it hits the border. So some stuff is labeled "organic" but if it's from another country, be wary of that too. I'm not sure if it's the same in the states.


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I try to stay away from the "Dirty Dozen" myself, which are the items that have the highest levels of pesticides.

Currently (2015) the list is comprised of:

Apples
Peaches
Nectarines
Strawberries
Grapes
Celery
Spinach
Sweet Bell Peppers
Cucumbers
Cherry Tomatos
Snap Peas (imported)
Potatoes


The Dirty+ List
Hot Peppers
Kale/Collard Greens


These items contain the highest levels of pesticides (as of 2015)

If it isn't on this list, I purchase the "regular" version for myself and pets.


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It's good to stay away from lettuce and leafy greens if not organic - I've talked to people who lost whole colonies of insects by feeding the regular versions.

I second what Wodesorel said. I forgot to add in my post the leafy greens since my crabs don't really like them. My goldfish did start to display some issues untill I switched to organic spinach for them though.


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LadyMorrgian wrote:I try to stay away from the "Dirty Dozen" myself, which are the items that have the highest levels of pesticides.

Currently (2015) the list is comprised of:

Apples
Peaches
Nectarines
Strawberries
Grapes
Celery
Spinach
Sweet Bell Peppers
Cucumbers
Cherry Tomatos
Snap Peas (imported)
Potatoes


The Dirty+ List
Hot Peppers
Kale/Collard Greens


These items contain the highest levels of pesticides (as of 2015)

If it isn't on this list, I purchase the "regular" version for myself and pets.


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Wow interesting! So do you not feed any of these or organic?

So things like pumpkin, squash, watermelon and coconut have thick skins.. Do they need to be organic?

Pixilocks, if they are in this list, it's organic or it's not even coming into my house.

When it comes to thick skinned items, 9x out of 10 the skin is not being consumed so they are "safe" in my eyes any way.

Please let me emphasize that organic is always the better option regardless. Sadly, not many of us can afford to be 100% organic. So this is how I try to compromise.

I personally am looked at a bit funny by my friends since 99% of the foods in my house double as at least one pets food...


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I started buying organic for my pets so that they can get the scraps and I don't have to worry. If I don't finish off the lettuce, it goes to the crabs or mealworms. Apple cores go to the crabs rather than get tossed, etc. Before I would have tossed them rather than risk hurting them with pesticides.

I actually get all my organic stuff at Walmart. It's not much more than their regular stuff, but they can go weeks without having organic apples sometimes.

I haven't fed them anything that isn't organic yet - I was just wondering if anything was safe if it wasn't as my options are rather limited atm. I have just put in a big order from the US so hopefully that will arrive shortly! They are mainly lacking in fruit !

I'm a little confused about the organic/inorganic argument. Just because something is organic doesn't mean pesticides and other chemicals aren't used on it, it just means that the chemicals have to be labeled as "organic". In some cases, pesticides that are classified as organic are even more dangerous than inorganic chemicals. So is it really safer? Just interested in people's thoughts.

rml6f4 - I go by the theory that every little bit helps. We're talking about animals that can live 40 years, so the accumulated effects of chemicals over time is a big unknown and a big worry. Basic food prep should always be used unless you're growing it itself - wash, peel, and inspect. Try and know where your food is coming from and how it's been grown if at all possible. For me, the eye opener was when I was keeping exotic roach colonies and talked with people who had entire colonies wiped out from feeding non-organic produce without thinking. If there is that much residue that can be left (and I'm not saying it's all bad - just that you can't see it to know) than the little extra I spend on things grown using organic methods is a bit more insurance I won't be experiencing the same thing with my pets. It's not sure fire, but it's the best that I can be doing.

Do you know if it is a problem if you are not feeding the skin? Don't know much about this, but am now freaking out, I fed unorganic apples, flesh only. Luckily, the picky guys didn't seem to eat much, but...? I also fed cucumber w/ skin, unorganic, and am wondering if I could proceed without skin? Or would washing help? Sorry if it's a dumb question.