HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Ive been reluctant to buy other pet food products for my crabs because they never say organic. Everytime I wander around a pet store, I see fruits meant for birds, dried plants meant for rabbits, and dried crickets meant for reptiles. Are any of those safe for hermits and how would I know?

This is probably your safest bet to follow. This gives you a breakdown of the most common dangerous additives to pet foods.
http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92555

Our safe foods list is extremely outdated. It is still a good learning point to start sourcing your own ingredients.
http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92557

As for other pet food sources. I am a huge fan of single ingredient dog treats from Vital Essentials, The Honest Kitchen also has single ingredient items our hermits enjoy. The packs are $10+ each but will be a massive stockpile for a handful of hermits. Ours go crazy for the freeze dried minnows, mussels, white fish, and wolf fish skins. I'm sure your hermits wouldn't mind if you shared with a dog!

https://www.petsmart.com/small-pet/food ... gK9T_D_BwE

Or something like this?

If you have a nearby yard or field that is not sprayed with pesticides, you can pick your own dandelion leaves for your crabs! Free and fresh!

Some crabbers hate the idea of not using organic food, but all commercially sold organic foods still have pesticides on it! In some cases the organically approved chemicals used are even more toxic because of the type and amount needed to have a full effect. Hermit crabs are closely related to insects so anything aimed at insects can potentially affect the crabs as well. The only way to be 100% free is to grow your own and be aware of being used on properties nearby.

That said, it's a low risk to use either organic or regular produce/items. The vast majority of pet items won't be labeled organic, but they should still be under regulation and testing for safety. Myself, I buy fresh organic for the dirty dozen list just to be on the safe side and then I also make sure to wash and peel regular things, and I feel very comfortable with that level of prevention. I also buy all kinds of fish and reptile food for them. I know crabbers with the same crabs who never bought organic or any fancy crab food ever and had the same crabs for years. Heck, we see so many crabs in their teens who only ever got pellets.

There is also no organic regulation or labeling for things like insects and seafood, only plants and farmed meats.

DragonsFly wrote:If you have a nearby yard or field that is not sprayed with pesticides, you can pick your own dandelion leaves for your crabs! Free and fresh!

I get HUGE dandelion greens in my yard. I've picked them and the flowers and have dehydrated them (to last longer) for my crabs and tortoise. They really seem to enjoy them.

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I think if it’s safe for reptiles and birds (which can be very delicate), it’s likely ok. As long as the only ingredients are dried natural ingredients, I’ll feed them to my crabs.

Bird seed & treat

Higgins Sunburst Fruits & Veggies Gourmet Treats Small Birds https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DOZ1T76/re ... UTF8&psc=1

Fish products


Higgins Sunburst Fruits & Veggies Gourmet Treats Small Birds https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DOZ1T76/re ... UTF8&psc=1

Reptile

Zilla Reptile Food Munchies River... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NOLTBTI?re ... b_ap_share

Fluker's Freeze Dried River... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HZDXQJM?re ... b_ap_share

Crabs

Zoo Med Hermit Crab Fruit-Salad All Natural Fruit Treat (0.85 oz (2 Pack)) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C7MMM5Z/re ... UTF8&psc=1

I also buy walnuts, dried unsweetened coconut, and dried unsalted seaweed snacks and crush that up. All can easily be found organic and human grade. You can freeze egg/eggshells and bits of leftover meats (I cut out the unseasoned middle) for handy food.

I order crushed oyster shell calcium supplement, mineral supplement and food mixes from hermit crab patch. The crabs also eat the cork log and moss I put in the tank. They did not eat the freeze dried bugs and meal worms as much and they grossed me out, so their cricket and meal work protein comes from HCP blends.

You can pick approved leaves if you know it’s an untreated area. You can bake on low to dehydrate leaves. My city fogs for mosquitoes and almost everyone uses weed killer, so I don’t pick here.

My crabs eat primarily freeze dried shrimp, eggs/shells, fresh and freeze dried fruits and veggies and seeds. I also give them beef, chicken and fish from our plates on occasion. I keep local unpasteurized honey for a treat, newly molted or injured crabs and bee pollen/queen jelly in the freezer.

I’ve had two of them 8 years, so I think I’m doing ok.


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