HCA: Hermit Crab Association

What kind of calcium do you guys recommend? I currently use the cuttlebone, but am wondering if the crushed oyster shells would be better? What else could I use?

Mogy I have and use both.The cuttlebone gets softened in the humidity and the one in the micro tank definately gets used.The oyster shell is pretty small crumbs, so there is almost powder, too. I can't tell when it is being eaten, but it seems to disappear (maybe tracked off on their feet?).I think both are good choices for various reasons. The oyster shell was a whole lot cheaper (free) because of my mother's chickens.

I use cuttlebone and my crabs LOVE it. I have to buy a new on for them almost as often as for my three birds.

I don't know about which one's better (so far as nutrition goes) but I like using powdered oyster shells. I don't have the patience to sit there and crush up a cuttlebone and my hermies don't bother picking at it whole, so the powdered oyster shells are more convenient for me.

I offer both to my hermies. I really couldn't tell you which one they eat the most of though.Dawn

I use both, as well as Calci-Sand. I can say that I've noticed postmolters picking at the cuttlebone a lot more than the "regular" guys, so I always make sure to have it in the tank. The crushed oyster shells are always received well too.

I offer calci sand too. All 3 are in a soap dish so they can pick which one they want.Dawn

I like the crushed oyster shells better, you don't have to crush them! Plus a box of oyster shells cost less then a cuttlebone. I found sand dollars at Michaels and they where crushed, I think there where 4 in a bag and every one was damaged so I asked for a discount and got them 1/2 price! They seem to love dragging the bigger pieces around!

I just toss in a whole cuttlebone, or a big chunk of one. Even the micros use it- the pieces slowly disappear with scrape marks all around.

A cuttle bone doesn't last longer than a month in my crabitat---they all pick at it until it's gone, or just the hard backing is left. I'm going to get some crushed oyster shells and see how they like that. I've nver offered a dish of Calci-Sand, but I do have a bag mixed into the EE, and I see the crabbies picking at the substrate sometimes.

I use egg shells, since I'm eating the eggs anyway and the shells would just get tossed.... haha, I'm a poor college student and gotta save money where I can! Also, bananas are supposed to be a good source of calcium - mine also get banana chips and baby food

Sand dollars are just about the same as cuttle bones, however the cuttlebones are much cheaper to buy.

There was also some information about sand dollars a while ago from Frank at http://www.naplesseashellcompany.com. He told us to make sure you get the unbleached, natural kind because most sand dollars you find in a store have been treated with glues, bleaches and other chemicals (so they look pretty). BTW, crushed egg shells and dried raspberry leaves also contain plenty of calcium.

If you're rural, farm and feed stores sell crushed oyster shell as a supplement for chickens to make their eggshells tougher. It's just real oyster shells, cleaned and crushed. Also, freshwater clam shells and regular oyster shells are good too. Just be sure you boil them good to clean off anything organic. I currently have two chunks of oyster shells in my tank, and my crabs have been eating them away for the past few weeks.

Good info about the sand dollars... Ive seen it mentioned so many times, and although I knew they were bleached, it just never crossed my mind in regards to the crabs! I wish wherever I had read that had said something about the bleach, that cant be good!! I never bought the sand dollars, they were considerably more than just a cuddlebone... but thanks for the heads-up!