HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Ok, so I have seen so many people tell me how much their crabs love peanut butter and would love to give my guys a treat but....we have a peanut free home. My son eats sunflower butter (taste is pretty close, but it isn't as thick) in its place.

I saw that crushed sunflower seeds were on the "safe food list", but just wanted to be sure. The ingredients list says, sunflower seeds, dehydrated cane juice, and salt. Sounds safe but anyone heard any different?

I always wondered too, and how about soynut butter?

Our house is peanut and tree nut free too =)

I would say no only because it says salt. I'm still a little iffy on the whole salt issue, so I'm sticking with sea salt. Once or if it is proven safe, then I say give it a try. But I'd hold off until then. I used to be allergic to cashews, but my brother still ate them around me even when he knew they'd kill me. I went into anaphylactic shock at age 3 from cashews, and was unable to breathe. Doctor said if I ate them again, I would die in a matter of 2 minutes. Hospital is now 2 hours away, so I have no chance. But I outgrew it, and I love cashews.

this might make you feel better about salt viewtopic.php?p=671800&highlight=#671800
i personally dont feed any nut butters or honey to my crabs because of how sticky it is, this thread explains why viewtopic.php?t=78890&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

As a treat it should be fine. I give my Skippy peanut butter on occasion and they do just fine with it...I try and mix it with something or spread it thinly, but all the same, they do enjoy the safe nut and seed "butters"

If in doubt, get some sunflower seeds (skins removed) and pop them in the blender with a little olive oil til you have a paste. Fresh made nut and seed butters are yummy (oh and the crabs will like them too )

Since sunflower butter is REALLY watery, we tried spreading a little bit on a slice of banana. They liked it alot! Well, Penny liked it a lot, the other guys ate it but not as enthusiastically as she did!

Thanks for all the advice. I waited until after we bought a new jar and got the organic kind so there wouldn't be any chemicals. I think my son likes the idea of sharing his snack with his crabbies.