HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Would it be safe to take some non toxic acrylic paint and dip the tips of my hermit crabs legs in it and let them walk on a canvas and then immediately wash it of and watch carefully so they don't eat it but I dint think they will since its on the bottom of there feet like finger painting for hermit crabs.

Even if paint says non-toxic, they are referring to humans. So just to be on the safe side, i wouldnt.

biancachristensen wrote:Would it be safe to take some non toxic acrylic paint and dip the tips of my hermit crabs legs in it and let them walk on a canvas and then immediately wash it of and watch carefully so they don't eat it but I dint think they will since its on the bottom of there feet like finger painting for hermit crabs.

DON'T DO THAT, paint will poison your hermit crabs and cause a slow painful death.

You can always try natural "paints" like pomegranate juice, pureed spinach, etc.


Crabbers unite!!!

YYWW wrote:You can always try natural "paints" like pomegranate juice, pureed spinach, etc.

*facepalm*
We've had people ask the painting question before and no one came up with that. It's brilliant!

Crabbers unite!!!

YYWW wrote:


Crabbers unite!!!

Lol your just like "hehehehe I'm genius"


Mommy of 10 PP babies:
Poseidon (Sid), Toby, Matty, Junior, Aries, Kaylee, Turbo, Adrian, Pepper and Flower. RIP Octavius & Fred

Crabbers unite!!!

I think people just shouldn't do that to hermit crabs, even if it's natural paint.
Hermit crabs like being clean, so doing that would upset the hermit crabs.

I think it all depends on the person. There are people who like to hand feed their crabs, or take the crabs out and let them wander every now and then. While i would not do any of that with my own crabs i cannot argue that they will harm other peoples' crabs. Hermit crab keeping, the proper way, is still too new and ongoing development. If we reeeeeeeally want to do what's right there should be no pet hermit crab pets at all, as they are all cultivated from the wild. The only people keeping hermit crabs should be either rescuing them or breeding them. But such is life. We do our best and try not to think too much.


Crabbers unite!!!

You have a good point.

Considering how many times I've watched mine wade into the sardines in oil and then track that mess all over the place, I don't think it would bother them that much!

My hermit crab Shelby cleans herself for hours.

One of mine was running away from me (i just wanted to peek) and suddenly stopped, flung a poop off himself, and kept running. Some are extra tidy i guess!


Crabbers unite!!!

I think the conversation has been derailed.