HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Sorry if this have been asked before. Searching for crabs as food for hermit crabs in this forum is pretty much impossible due to the massive amount of unrelated posts that contain the words "crab"

the recommended food lists says that "Crustaceans (any and all crustacea including crayfish, lobster, shrimp and other crabs)" are safe.

I read about an experiment conducted a couple of years ago where the researchers took dead crabs and dumped them into a tank with live hermit crabs. They expected them to be afraid, but they went into a feeding frenzy instead. I wonder if anybody fed their crabs, other crabs and how they reacted to it ? Obviously we can't provide the kind they get in nature. But from reading about that experiment it seems that hermit crabs are crazy about eating other crabs.

link to video related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_tDhaK68u0

I am not going to post the actual documentation from the experiment as it contain graphic elements, some members might find disturbing

Lots of us feed crab. I have rock crab claws in the freezer right now that are strictly pet food.

I've never had frenzied feeding activities, but my guys get a good variety of protein options. If you look at a lot of studies (though I've not read the one you're referencing ... would you mind giving us the title and author, please?), they're keeping the crabs on cat or dog food a lot of the time, so it isn't a surprise that when you toss something meaty & strong smelling in, they go nuts. I'd be excited too!

The experiment was conducted by a zoologist named Mark Tran from Michigan State University

Mine love crab legs and exo

Mean experiment, mashing up crabs ;( I am probably overthinking lmao.

Thank for the info.I am defiantly going to put crab on the menu for my hermits. Although I will probably not be able to source raw crab, and exo

About the experiment. It would probably not be disturbing to most users. But I figured that the way he euthanized the "sacrificial" crabs was a bit graphic

Yeeeeah... for sure most animal studies aren't for the faint of heart.

They are often interesting though.

I've fed mine a mussel once. The store associate said it was live. Ugh. They didn't seem to eat any. I fed them scallop the other day. Also didn't look like they ate it. Tonight I gave them crab leg and viola! One piece is missing already. Kinda creepy they eat their relatives.

They eat each other when given a chance to do so safely, which is why giving them enough substrate to hide while moulting is so paramount. A healthy crab will not attack another healthy crab because of the risk of injury, but when one is weakened all bets are off and there are individuals who will jump at the opportunity. Not all, but some.

There was a case a few years back where a member supposedly had a psychotic E that would attack other crabs and anything that looked like another crab like her keychain. She said it ripped its own leg off and ate it. It settled down after a few months of seafood counter crab legs. I have no reason to doubt the story as crabs will hunt and kill each other in certain cases when deprived of certain nutrients, but retelling it makes it sound completely nuts.

wodesorel wrote:They eat each other when given a chance to do so safely, which is why giving them enough substrate to hide while moulting is so paramount. A healthy crab will not attack another healthy crab because of the risk of injury, but when one is weakened all bets are off and there are individuals who will jump at the opportunity. Not all, but some.

There was a case a few years back where a member supposedly had a psychotic E that would attack other crabs and anything that looked like another crab like her keychain. She said it ripped its own leg off and ate it. It settled down after a few months of seafood counter crab legs. I have no reason to doubt the story as crabs will hunt and kill each other in certain cases when deprived of certain nutrients, but retelling it makes it sound completely nuts.

Yet another reason why I'm wary of getting Es. I'll stick with my lazy PPs that are too focused on sleeping to eat each other!

I don't think I've ever had food mites, thank goodness, but I did have a gnat infestation a while back. Coincidentally, they all showed up after I fed banana too.