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Hermit Crab is eating moss and soil
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 2:04 pm
by SpookySoulGeek
Hi, so my hermit crab, who's pretty active, gets fresh fruit, dried mealworms, deli turkey, eggs, veggies, grains, and eggshells, and red seaweed, seems to really like to eat moss and soil (worm castings, rich dark soil), and I'm just wantingto make sure that's normal. They get fresh treated water (with prime), salt water (instant ocean). Also they seem to like to eat palm leaves sometimes too. I put moss in for the first time i na while and he ate it all in one sitting,along with some soil (worm castings and the soil my separate (different enclosure) isopods composted. He also likes to eat acorns. Is there a possible nutrient he might be missing?
Re: Hermit Crab is eating moss and soil
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 11:14 pm
by curlysister
All the foods, including leaves and acorns and worm castings are part of a varied diet. Very normal for him to eat all of those things.
Re: Hermit Crab is eating moss and soil
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2025 8:48 pm
by sophie_rice
That’s very normal and very healthy! In fact, worm castings are recommended to be available for crabs as one of their 24/7 foods (like greensand) and moss is also really healthy.
Re: Hermit Crab is eating moss and soil
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2025 10:11 am
by curlysister
sophie_rice wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 8:48 pm
That’s very normal and very healthy! In fact, worm castings are recommended to be available for crabs as one of their 24/7 foods (like greensand) and moss is also really healthy.
While crabs do like and eat both of those foods, there aren't actually an '24/7' foods that must be in the tank all the time for crab health. A varied diet can include those, but it certainly does not need to. Crabs will get all the nutrition they need by feeding a varied diet.
Re: Hermit Crab is eating moss and soil
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 12:07 pm
by SpookySoulGeek
thank you, yeah i wanted to make sure if was safe ofr him to eat so much of it because it seemed like he was eating alot of the moss and soil.
Re: Hermit Crab is eating moss and soil
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2025 11:20 am
by sophie_rice
curlysister wrote: ↑Sun Jun 22, 2025 10:11 am
While crabs do like and eat both of those foods, there aren't actually an '24/7' foods that must be in the tank all the time for crab health. A varied diet can include those, but it certainly does not need to. Crabs will get all the nutrition they need by feeding a varied diet.
Yes, definitely not essential. But my crabs love it and it’s really nutritious so I include it almost all the time
