HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I have searched and can't seem to find the Safe/Unsafe foods topic in the forum. Does someone have a link??
I have been wondering if it's ok to give my crabbie frozen berries that I have from the grocery store.


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The safe and unsafe foods list is stickied on the food&water subforum, just click on 'stickies' at the top (: Here is the link to the safe foods http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=92557

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Hermie225 wrote:The safe and unsafe foods list is stickied on the food&water subforum, just click on 'stickies' at the top (: Here is the link to the safe foods http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=92557

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Aha! Thanks bunches!!

Also would it be best for most of the foods either be ground or mashed (i.e. berries & bananas versus the nuts)?


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If the hermies are small I would mash them just a little so its easier for them with their little pinchers, but I think generally they are able to break it down on their own.

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I always crush the food up (mostly dehydrated) with a mortar and pestle. I do this not because they can't pick apart anything (almost) with their claws, but because it discourages them carrying off large pieces they bury. Not only do I not rotting buried food in my substrate but then more than one crab may be get that piece of popcorn or chicken or whatever.

landlubber wrote:I always crush the food up (mostly dehydrated) with a mortar and pestle. I do this not because they can't pick apart anything (almost) with their claws, but because it discourages them carrying off large pieces they bury. Not only do I not rotting buried food in my substrate but then more than one crab may be get that piece of popcorn or chicken or whatever.

Makes sense!

Also wondering about how the list mentions sand dollars, untreated...would I be able to use some pieces that I found from the beach last year?


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If they're from a beach they should be fine, just boil then to make sire they are clean.

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Rawrgeous wrote:If they're from a beach they should be fine, just boil then to make sire they are clean.

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Will do!!

Also with the mashed up food, do you put it in a dish that you just take out to wash later before serving the next meal?


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I grind up all or most all of my crabs' food with a molcajete (Mexican version of a mortar and pestle) or a coffee grinder. My crabs seem to prefer a fairly fine grind.

I have several small ceramic bowls and natural shells that I use for food. I rotate through them and pop the dirty ones into the dishwasher.

mool wrote:I grind up all most all of my crabs' food with a molcajete (Mexican version of a mortar and pestle) or a coffee grinder. My crabs seem to prefer a fairly fine grind.

I have several small ceramic bowls and natural shells that I use for food. I rotate through them and pop the dirty ones into the dishwasher.

Awesome! Thanks

What about the flowers/plants? Grind those too?


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Fresh flowers and plants I chop really fine with a knife and cutting board. Dried stuff gets ground.