HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hey all! I've been having some issues with my crabs. They don't seem to like fresh foods like kiwi, grapes, avo, apple, bacon and sardines, or anything like that! They however LOVE popcorn (home-made, popped with coconut oil, none left by the time I change their food out), raisins, powder food and medley.
Could they perhaps be taking such small amounts that I don't notice? Is the humidity of the tank causing the popcorn to simply deteriorate to a point I can't see much of it?
What are your crabs' favourite foods? Do they also prefer dry foods over fresh food?

Mine generally prefer dry. They will eat a bit of bell pepper, wild strawberry (I've got it all over), little slivers of raw meat, pork and chicken being preferred. I don't go out of my way to give them fresh. A bit of what we're having is what I do. We have corn, they get a kernal, before I cook it. Sometimes they eat it, most times they don't. I picked up some dried lizard food yesterday. It's fruits, veggies and mealworms. Those were the only ingredients. I also got some dried flower heads that were for turtles.

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My hermit crab will only eat fresh food if its grated/chopped up SUPER small, no matter how soft it is. (like banana) If you aren't already chopping it up tiny you should

I offer a variety. Like you said sometimes you can't tell if they are eating certain things. I do leave a premix from th crabby patch down as well. I'll do whatever meat we have with a rotation of diff. Fruits and veggies, eggs and shells, honey for a treat. I chop some tiny and leave a couple larger chunks since I have diff size crabs I fig they may prefer diff kinds sizes. In the wild they scavenger anyway. Mine do love coconut too. Def. Things that smell good and bad lol just keep a good variety and rotation is all.

Sorry for only just getting back to everyone!! I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help out.
So far I've noticed that they like leaves and their cuttlebone as well. They seem to love cooked meat too, especially chicken. And of course, their dried food.
I'll just keep feeding different varieties. Try to trust that the crabs are getting what they need lol

My guys LOVE eggs, especially hardboiled egg yolks.

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CrabbyLover77 wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:46 pm

My guys LOVE eggs, especially hardboiled egg yolks.

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I wish my crabs liked egg lol. it just ends up stinking up the room XD.Would be worth it if they would eat it at least lol

TeaDragon wrote:
I wish my crabs liked egg lol. it just ends up stinking up the room XD.Would be worth it if they would eat it at least lol

Aw shucks! My guys aren't into fresh foods either, but love eggs. Thought your hermits might be the same.

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The only food I've actually witnessed one or two of my PPs eating is raw honey. Definitely evidence of them eating other stuff like popcorn, egg shell, bell pepper, meats, freeze dried shrimp and meal worms. When I say evidence, it's more or less the food getting moved around a bit and winding up with some sand on it. My crabs are all small. A dot of food is likely too much. Most of anything I give them gets thrown away.

JTKermie wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 13, 2021 11:59 am

The only food I've actually witnessed one or two of my PPs eating is raw honey. Definitely evidence of them eating other stuff like popcorn, egg shell, bell pepper, meats, freeze dried shrimp and meal worms. When I say evidence, it's more or less the food getting moved around a bit and winding up with some sand on it. My crabs are all small. A dot of food is likely too much. Most of anything I give them gets thrown away.

That's the same way I measure their interest in food. If it's been carried off or moved, it means they at least tried it lol. Only thing I've seen them eat is bamboo leaves, sultanas and cuttlebone. Popcorn, non-seafood meat, dried food and the like gets moved around. Just about anything else, including mangoes and stuff, just doesn't get touched lol. Makes me sad, as I would have loved to eat that bit of mango instead XD

From what I have heard around here just keep trying those things you think they don’t like because they might eventually eat it one day. And try them in different forms; dried, cooked, raw, chopped, whole, etc… Don’t give up on something. Mine like some of the things that yours don’t like. Mine love mango, fresh or dehydrated. So just keep trying them once in a while.