HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Is $45.85 normal for a big batch of my own hermit crab food mix?

What exactly do you mean by this- does the cost include a ton of materials you made into a mix?

Yes, the cost includes the materials I ordered online to make a big batch of my hermits crab food. This food should last me up to six months, maybe a year for some of the ingredients, I will order more of each item as needed, and switch them up with substitutes to keep my crab babies happy! I ended up spending around $56, and I have more stuff on hand at home at all times (the fruits/vegetables +more that I am adding to make the meal complete)! The stuff I ordered online will not spoil, it doesn't go bad for a very long time if kept right, and I entend to keep each item correct, so that I can use them all. I feel that the amount spent is good considering that I bought each item individually for the food (except for the seed combo I got lol), and so I feel that it was a good purchase overall! I just want others opinions! I will be sure to share what the food mix contains later today incase anyone is curious as to what my babies are going to be munching on for months to come! I plan on switching up the fruits/vegetables weekly, and adding other spices that are crab safe/other add ins as I can so they don't get bored of it!

I'm not too surprised! Etsy mixes can add up quick! Not to say they're overpriced, but hermits do need some weeeeird things not found in your average grocery store XD

myllkti wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:10 pm

I'm not too surprised! Etsy mixes can add up quick! Not to say they're overpriced, but hermits do need some weeeeird things not found in your average grocery store XD

I didn't get them on Esty, I ordered hermy safe ingredients on Amazon, I'm making my own mix!

Ah I see! Apologies for the misunderstanding! In that case I can't really speak to how reasonable prices were since that would require checking regular prices for the different things you got, but considering hermit food in general such as whats found on etsy, it doesn't sound too too far off mark!

myllkti wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:54 pm

Ah I see! Apologies for the misunderstanding! In that case I can't really speak to how reasonable prices were since that would require checking regular prices for the different things you got, but considering hermit food in general such as whats found on etsy, it doesn't sound too too far off mark!

Thank you!

Here is what their food is going to be made out of! Any notes?

Egg Whites
Avocado
Banana
Celery
Egg Shells
Mint
Reptile Calcium Supplement
Raw Wakame Seaweed
Unsalted Sunflower and Pumpkin Seeds
Organic Flax Seed
Freeze Dried Shrimp
Raw Honey

Looks like a great start! Would add some detritus if you can, that can also be separate in the form of something like leaf litter, as well as maybe some redder and/or orange/yellow, etc foods. you already hit these food groups but it may be nice to have more options: marine protein (like the shrimp), other proteins, sea flora (like the seaweed)

Question for my own curiosity: any reason egg yolks are being avoided?

Crabs do well with variety. So while you can offer your mix, be sure to also give them a variety of fresh fruits, veggies, meats, greens, grains, etc so they aren't always being given the same thing.

myllkti wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 14, 2023 9:58 am

Looks like a great start! Would add some detritus if you can, that can also be separate in the form of something like leaf litter, as well as maybe some redder and/or orange/yellow, etc foods. you already hit these food groups but it may be nice to have more options: marine protein (like the shrimp), other proteins, sea flora (like the seaweed)

Question for my own curiosity: any reason egg yolks are being avoided?

No, not at all! I am not avoiding egg yolks, I just have yet to make eggs recently! I plan on putting egg yolks and shells in the mix actually, egg prices are just still high where I am, and it can be expensive!

curlysister wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 14, 2023 11:33 pm

Crabs do well with variety. So while you can offer your mix, be sure to also give them a variety of fresh fruits, veggies, meats, greens, grains, etc so they aren't always being given the same thing.

Ofc! I just put the fruits and veggies in there and I always change them every week! I also will switch meats when I run out (like every month or so), so it's not a big deal! Other than that is my meal good enough for their diet?