HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So I bought the healthy hermit mason jar with snakeskin protein. Is the snakeskin a suitable protein source or should I choose the red shrimp next time. Those are the two that smell the least they said. Any help would be awesome! Thanks everyone!

Snakeskin is almost entirely keratin - like hair, nails and hooves. It is a protein, but it's not equivelent to meat-based proteins and will not provide them with the everyday nutrients they need. Hermits must have meat-based proteins in order to both survive, and to keep from attacking their tankmates. A variety is recommended so they don't end up lacking in something vital.

If you're concerned about smell, try dried chicken or beef as they are the least offensive, and remove in the morning. Any seafood will end up being fishy, though it might not bother you as much as you might think. (I actually think red shrimp reek the worst among the dried seafood options, so I'm surprised that was recommended!) Plankton never seemed to be too bad, just oceany. Insects tend to be on the mild side as well but they are distinctive.

Thank you! If you had to choose the one that would smell the least , which would you go with? And thank you in advance!

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Meals will smell different that whole sources especially since they are usually cooked which lessens the aroma, but whole dried mealworms and super worms are pretty innocuous. Grasshoppers and crickets are also bland. I've had human-grade cricket flour before, and it smelled different but not bad.

Awesome, I now have some options to try out! Thanks so much for the help!!

Don't forget blood worms! They never stink up my tank. Especially when they are whole.

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Keep in mind what Wode said about variety. They also get bored eating the same thing so change it up a couple times a week. You'll need several different proteins.

I have noticed that with my crabs... I only have two types of freeze dried protein, blood worms and brine shrimp. Can someone give me a list of some similar food?

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Do you mean other dried protein sources?

Hello I just wanted to mention that this is not The Healthy Hermit (which is my store ~ LOL) I don't sell mason jars, or meals mentioned above. I think that might be Hermie's Kitchen

I would like to inform you that grasshoppers can smell really bad