HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So I decided to bite the bullet and give it a try since its nice outside and I can open the apartment up and put the dehydrators next to a window

Im dehydrating SeaBass (native to warm waters) and then silversides. Well see how it goes! Ill let you know what happens. mmMM...so far no smell!

If it works well these two fish and perhaps some sea scallops will be in a kibble!

let us know when the seafood kibble is ready......I would love to get some for my crabbies

huH!> What are you doing to them?

no not live fish....

I went to the store and got a fillet and I cut it up and put it in the dehydrator. Essentially Im making fish jerky....for the crabs of course

How long will it take to dehydate? Do you have the electric dehydrator or the basic one, Aaryn?

I have the Nesco Gardenmaster....it has an adjustable temperature for making jerkey b/c you want the meat to dry as fast as possible to limit bacteria. But that one is 1000watts, and expands up to 30 trays.

My other one is the Nesco Snack one, about half the power of the big one, but it works really well for drying carrots, blueberries, pineapple and strawberries.

Right now the fish is about half done, its in 1/2 inch by 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch chunks so it drys faster. It will be done by tomorrow morning. Its drying in the Gardenmaster at the setting of 155 degrees. It stinks a bit, but not too bad...we left for a bit and then came back in and it stunk but a couple minutes later I was use to it and it doesnt bother anymore Ill try the silversides tomorrow and maybe the scallops Monday!

Mmmmmm air freshener!


I'll have to sign up on the waiting list for some dried fish too.

What is the consistancy? Is it jerky like or can it be flaked? Can you grind it up?

I'm so curious. DH is building me a solar dehydrator and I can't wait to use it!

ooo, ok! lol. I thought you had a live fish, and were leaving it to die without water! I was like....WHAT! lol, k, nvm

Well it took the fish 5 hours to dry, not bad! It was dry before I went to bed last night.

The consistency...its crunchy, so it can definitely be ground up. Not at all like a jerky tho, its pretty hard. I would guess if I made the pieces bigger it might have been more flexible and not so crunchy.

Cheyenne, if I had a live seabass Id be in trouble...dont have a tank big enough for one of those! The 1/2 fillet that I bough was about 1/2 ft long

Hey Nar, have you thought about drying baby shrimp? I mean you can buy dehydrated shrimp in stores so maybe you could dehydrate some yourself and put it in your kibbles. I can't remember if you already have dried shrimp in your kibbles or not lol.

Yea, that is on the list for the two seafood kibbles/mixes and I forgot to buy them So well have to see how that goes lol! I expect a little more stinky than the fish just by judging the crab tanks after a night of shimps. *blek! But I will have to look for the little shrimps rather than the larger ones!! Good idea!!

it sounds good to me! my crabs are sure to love it!

I went and got the baby shrimps today...OMG the bag is HUGE! lol! Ill let you know how that goes....good thing bf isnt going to be home tonight...the apartment is going to stink to the high heavens!!! [smilie=faint.gif]

Hey Nar! That is a great idea! Get to it so you can make my crabbers some kibble

Let us all know how it goes