HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Every year we have hundreds of black-eyed susans that grow in our yard. I didn't see them on either list and was wondering if they'd be safe for crabs?

hermitsinnc wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 12, 2023 2:04 pm

Every year we have hundreds of black-eyed susans that grow in our yard. I didn't see them on either list and was wondering if they'd be safe for crabs?

I believe they are toxic, but I'm not an expert! I wouldn't feed them to my crabs just to be safe!

They are apparently toxic to cats if ingested, but that info can't be used to determine whether they would be harmful to crabs.
I'm going to say that they probably aren't on either list because they haven't been trialled as a food source in captivity.
And....well, I'm the queen of giving things to my crabs without actually consulting the safe/ unsafe list....so I would probably put one petal in and see if they eat it. If there are other food sources, they will likely avoid something that would be potentially harmful. I gave my crabs tomato leaves, dill, chives, etc before I realized they were not on the safe list LOL. And I know that they ate some of each of them, and were not harmed. Apple seeds are known to be harmful - but I guarantee that I have put in an apple core without thinking of the seeds being in it still, and the crabs picked at the apple and did not eat the seeds.

The risk on these looks low. There's no noted toxins for most animals and isn't used for repellents, though it can effect grazing animals but the mechanism of how it does hasn't been noted anywhere. (Which is confusing.) It seems to be mostly a physical issue that causes this plant to be listed, due to the hairs on the stems, but that is something that crabs wouldn't have to worry about.