HCA: Hermit Crab Association

With all the rules / concerns of feeding crabs (non-organic foods, iodine, etc) I only give my crabs food from the hermit crab patch. I don't give commerical food, but they do get a variety of things from the HCP. Is this OK? We don't buy organic. I am making sure they are getting all their nutrient needs, though. WDYT?

i'm one of the more laid-back crabbers, i think, and i follow the non-iodine rule, but since i'm also a poor college student, i can't afford to get organic. i just make sure they get their fruits and veggies washed with dechlorinated water and that their meats are unsalted.

if you're feeding them a variety from the HCP, i think it's fine. if you give them a piece of non-organic banana, i think it's no big deal. hermit crabs in the wild are scavengers - they normally eat rotting sea life, wild plants, and any fruit that's fallen off the tree.

For fruits and veggies you can just peel the outer layer. That's the part that has been exposed to the most pesticides.

I generally shop at local food stores because they have a tendency to have food that is a bit better than somewhere like Wal-mart (and they've been cheaper).

I just make sure everything is well rinsed and cleaned up before giving it to them.