Crab is destroying/eating artificial plants

[Lemonsqr]

So my 2 crabs love to pick apart any plastic plants & shred the fabric ones. I noticed today that the suction cups in one of the shower caddies is all mangled too. Could they actually be eating this stuff? Do I need to take it out?

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[wodesorel]

I've never seen mine eat - it seems to be a reaction to being bored. I had a jumbo in a 30 gallon while I was getting my big tank ready, and she systematically destroyed three plastic plants by sitting the corner and pinching them apart. Didn't eat it, just sat there and plucked at it. Like crabby OCD. Once I got her in the bigger tank and she had space to move and things to actually do, she never did it again.

[Crabinski]

Don't worry! Crabs are very good about knowing what is edible and what is not. A lot of the destruction our little darlings do is caused by them simply "pinching" the leaves/netting/suction cups etc. to move about. One of my plastic vines looked like it had been chewed by a puppy but it was all pincher action while climbing. The small resin tree they absolutely love has been practically denuded of its fabric leaves over the years, all due to "snip, snip, snip" .

[KellyCrabbieLove]

I'm convinced mine are eating my fake plants. Lol

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[CallaLily]

My fake plants get a bit beat up looking over time, so I replace them every few years. It's one reason I don't splurge on the super nice, $$$ ones. I've never seen any of them actually eating it though.

[hemrit crabs]

Mine do this to and I'm really worried its harmful to them. They are definitely eating it because I watched one and there are no remains I don't know what to do

[soilentgringa]

Mine do this to and I'm really worried its harmful to them. They are definitely eating it because I watched one and there are no remains I don't know what to do

I don't know if mine eat them, but I know they like to pick at them and pull them apart.



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[Sensi]

I had a plastic aquarium peice in my tank and I removed it. I started seeing holes in it and thought what the heck. Then I caught a crab eating it one day.

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