HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I know this has probably come up before, but I couldn't find a post for it.

On with my question. How much should a crab be eating a day, or night in most cases. Mine are a little bigger than a quarter. They don't seem to like carrots that much. I have given them an apple piece and it was gone.
Is it bad that they won't eat for a day or so? I have food in there all the time if they decide they are hungry. Are they just that picky?!

Crabs dont eat a whole lot, compared to us or other pets we have so it seems like they arent eating. But if they are running around, they got their energy from somewhere, most likely its to food youve fed them So I wouldnt worry about them not eating, they usually only eat when they are hungry or are trying to pack it in for a molt.

I have some that eat every day..usually the ones preparing for a molt. But most of mine eat every other or every two days. I hardly ever see the same ones come running for the food dish when I replace it..except Sylvestra, who eats all the time premolt or not.

Sometimes, if what you feed is a "new food" it will take a while for them to recognize that its edible, especially if they had been fed only commercial pellets since they were nabbed from the beach. So keep trying the carrots...perhaps try them cooked or shredded.

Just keep trying foods, and offer the same food more than once if they dont seem to eat much the first or second time.

Thanks, that's really a relief. Mine don't move around a whole lot. When I try to stay up to watch them, it's a no show. But I know they are active (someone does laps around the sand part of the tank )
I'm going to keep trying. I'm running out of carrots, I just end up trowing the thing away!

hehe, yes tracks are the best way to see what they have been up to!

Rather than offering the entire carrot do just a couple slices, then you can stick the remainder in the fridge. That way you dont run out so fast..I do that will all sorts of their veggies..get something large and then chop it up and keep some in the fridge and the rest in the freezer

Yeah, I have been just cutting it up. They haven't been eating it so even if I do save it, it goes bad also.
I saw today they were eating what I left them. I always leave pellets or something that won't rot in the dish during the day. They left Almonds all over the place. I hope they don't start burring it.