HCA: Hermit Crab Association

i bought my hermit crabs an orange pepper today.
i didnt see them listen on the not safe list
or the list of things then enjoy.
just curious as to what people may know,
thanks.

What kind of pepper is it? Bell peppers are on the safe list; they come in red, green, yellow and orange.

Crabs are not affected by the chemicals in peppers that make them spicy to us. The only pepper they can't have in the seasoning type like black pepper.

SebbyCrab wrote:Crabs are not affected by the chemicals in peppers that make them spicy to us. The only pepper they can't have in the seasoning type like black pepper.

NarNar did a jalapeno trial a while back. I think she had some good results too.

I thought I had planted all sweet peppers last year, but some of the nursery bought ones were actually really hot! I'm not a big fan, so I dried them out and have been giving them to the crabbies. It's hit or miss with peppers - some days they'll go nuts but most of the time they won't be interested, They really seem to enjoy the center part with the seeds still attached the most. Makes it nice for us since I can give them the scraps we won't eat from sweet peppers and not feel guilty!

I have not found any evidence that black pepper will harm them either. mine have often had foods with black pepper on it. They seem to enjoy it. I dont think i would offer it as a food by its self but i dont see any harm in offering food that has been seasoned. Ive yet to find a herb or seasoning tht will harm them. Im not sure where that idea came from? I see it on the Bad list but im still not sure how the bad list came about other then the passing of word from others. Iven the small amount of iodine in regular table salt isnt enough to hurt them.. Iodine is in the ocean and seaweed. Just my opinion...I have found that some plants offered the crabs will not touch, in my opinion its because they do not consider them a food source, to me that says,its either not good for them or would in some way harm them. I havent said much of this in the past but now compairing notes with others, i find that alot of others are seeing the same thing.

suebee wrote:I have not found any evidence that black pepper will harm them either. mine have often had foods with black pepper on it. They seem to enjoy it. I dont think i would offer it as a food by its self but i dont see any harm in offering food that has been seasoned. Ive yet to find a herb or seasoning tht will harm them. Im not sure where that idea came from? I see it on the Bad list but im still not sure how the bad list came about other then the passing of word from others. Iven the small amount of iodine in regular table salt isnt enough to hurt them.. Iodine is in the ocean and seaweed. Just my opinion...I have found that some plants offered the crabs will not touch, in my opinion its because they do not consider them a food source, to me that says,its either not good for them or would in some way harm them. I havent said much of this in the past but now compairing notes with others, i find that alot of others are seeing the same thing.

You always have great info sue. thanks for sharing!

Mine don't like peppers! I have given it to them numerous times and they ignore it in favor of whatever else is in the food dish.

Regarding the iodine - I think views on that may have come from marine aquarium keeping. I haven't found anything to support or prove it, but many marine aquarium keeps believe that iodine is important for molting in invertebrates and thus the levels in the water must be correct to ensure successful molting. I guess if the amount in table salt high compared to marine salt, it could mess something up IF iodine actually does influence molting...and like I said, I've not found anything concrete on that

On the peppers - mine won't touch them. But someone on here has crabs that like jalapenos!!!