HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Protein:Almonds, crushedBloodworms (alive or dead)Cheese (be sure to get all natural varieties, serve as occasional treat)ChestnutsChicken bonesChicken, cooked and unseasoned (smash the bone for marrow access)ClamsCricketsCrustaceans (any and all crustacea including crayfish, lobster, shrimp and other crabs)Dairy products (milk, cheese, live-culture yogurt) **Egg, scrambled or soft boiledFish flakes w/out chemical preservativesFrozen fish food (esp. algae, krill and brine shrimp)Hikari products: brine shrimp, krill, crab cuisine, sea plankton (no preservatives)Lobster with crushed exoskeletonLocusts (dead)Macadamia nutsMusselsOctopusOysters Peanut butter (avoid sugar, corn syrup and hydrogenated oils)PeanutsPecansPistachio nutsSalmonSardines ScallopsShrimp and exoskeletonsSnails (use human food grade only; not wild snails)Sesame seeds (crushed)Spirulina (complete protein and chlorophyll source; highest in beta carotene)SquidSunflower Seeds (crushed), flowers and leaves (Helianthus)TunaWalnutsWhitefishMiscellaneous sources of Nitrogen (besides proteins): Worm CastingsSproutsDecaying Oak, Maple or Sycamore leavesFruits:Apple and natural, unsweetened apple sauceApricotBananaBilberries/HuckleberriesBlackberryBlueberriesCanteloupeCherimoyaCherryCitrus (all fruits)Cranberries (dehydrated)CurrantsFig (ripe fruit only)Gooseberry (ripe or overripe)GrapesHoneydew MelonKiwiLychee fruit (fresh; no kernel)MangoMarion BerriesMulberries (fresh or dried) Muscadine (grapes)OrangesPapayaPassionfruitPeachPearsPersimmonePineapplePlumPomegranateRaisins (no sulphur dioxide)RaspberryStar fruit (carambola)Strawberry and topsTamarilloTangerineTomatoWatermelonVeggies:AlfalfaArtichokesAsparagusAvocadoBeans, yellow wax Bell peppers (red, yellow, orange, green or purple)BeetsBroccoli and leavesBrussels sproutsCabbage (all varieties)Carrots Cauliflower and leavesChardCilantroCollards CucumberGreen and red leaf lettuce (not iceburg; dark green)Green BeansLima BeansLentilsMushroomsOkraParsley ParsnipPeasPotato (no green parts, including eyes)PumpkinSorrel (Rumex acetosa)SpinachSprouts (flax, wheat, bean, alfalfa, etc.)Squash (and squash blossom)Sweet potatoTahini (no garlic variety)Turnip greens Watercress Zucchini (and zucchini flowers)* Calcium:Blackstrap molasses (unsulfured) - amazingly high in nutrients such as calcium and potassium; 1-2 times monthlyCalcisandCalcium carbonate powder, plainCuttlefish bone, powderedEggshellsRed raspberry leaves (highest bioavailable calcium source + vit. C and trace minerals)Sand dollarsWatercress Cellulose: Acorns (crush and soak overnight in salt water then drain before serving)Amaranth (Ancient grain)Bamboo (live plants make wonderful tank toys and grazing)Barley Blackberry leavesBrown riceBorage blossoms (Borago officinalis)Calendula flowers (Calendula officinalis)-Also known as "pot marigolds"Camellia (Camellia japonica)Carnation flowers (Dianthus caryophyllus)Carrot tops Celery leavesCereal; Brown rice, soy, wheat or 7 grain, muesliChamomile flowersChickweedCholla woodClover blossoms and leavesCork barkCorn (on the cob, too)CornmealElderberry flowers (Sambucus canadensis)Daisies (Bellis perennis)Dandelion flowers, leaves and roots (Taraxacum officinale)Day lilies (Hemerocallis)Flax seeds/Linseeds (crushed)Garbanzos Gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.)Grape LeafGrapevine (vines and root)Hazel leavesHempseed MealHibiscus flowers (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)Hollyhock flowersHoneybushHoneysuckle flowers (Japanese Lonicera japonica)Impatiens (Impatiens wallerana)Irish MossJapanese red maple leaves, dried (Acer palmatum)Jasmine flowers (Jasmine officinale)Johnny-Jump-Up flowers--(Viola tricolor)KamutKelp Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)Madrona woodMangrove (small live trees can be obtained on eBay, use in water basin)Maple leavesMilk thistle flowers (Silybum marianum)Mint (but not peppermint!)Nasturtium flowers (Tropaeolum majus)Nettle (wilted)Nettle, stinging (pour boiling water over leaves first)Oak Leaves and barkPansy flowers and leaves (Viola X Wittrockiana)Passionflowers (Passifloraceae - passion flower family)Pecan barkPetunia blossomsPopcorn (unseasoned, unflavored, unbuttered)Psyllium & husksPurslane (Portulaca oleracea)Quinoa (New World grain)Rolled OatsRooibus (or rooibos)Roquette (Eruca vesicaria)Rose petals (Rosa spp)Rose hips Russian Olive leaves (Elaeagnus angustifolia)Sage blossoms (Salvia officinalis)Sea Sponges SemolinaSoy and soy products (human grade; miso, tofu, etc.)SpeltSugar caneSycamore leafSwamp cypress wood (false cypress, taxodium sp.)Timothy hayTree FernTriticaleTulip flowers (Tulipa spp.)Viola flowersViolet flowers (Viola odorata)Wasa All-Natural Crispbread (Oat flavor)Wheat grass Wheat Wheat germ Whole Wheat CouscousWild riceFats and oils: Anchovy oilCoconut and coconut oilCod liver oilExtra-virgin olive oilFish OilFlax seed oil (small amounts infrequently)Olive and olive oil (extra virgin)Sesame oil (in tiny amounts as appetite stimulant)Not sure where to put these:Bee pollenHoney (organic, or at least locally produced, for anti-microbials)Maple syrup Most organic baby foodsRoyal JellySea saltNot sure where to put seaweeds:ArameBladderwrackSea grassesDon't know what these are, neither did wikipediaSea biscuitsSea fan (red or black)

This list has been featured for the purposes of quick re-view by our members.It will not be closed so that it can be added to or edited when necessary.LHC staff.

To add to fruits: Fresh or dried mulberries.

Done.

I missed this totally the first time around, Geranium. Awesome job! Can you also add miscellaneous sources of nitrogen (besides proteins) such as worm castings, sprouts, and decaying oak, maple or sycamore leaves?

Simple cut and paste. Had done it for myself to help organize meal planning for mine.Added the nitrogen category up by proteins.Peg

Hi im new to crabs and am completely lost at food. Plan on buyin some asap, can someone make me a meal plan or something? I have one pp and one ee. Gunna get more though! Thanks so much in advance. And any reall plants i could possibly get that theyd like too

As an example, this is part (a very small part) of the note I left for my husband about the hermit crab food. I simplified as much as possible for him. We are out of town and he has to care for the critters.------------------------------Everyone has a Vitamin Water Lid of Calcium Sand (corner caddy in the large tank, soap dish without the water in the medium tank and under the cocohut in the small one). Replace if it gets hard, unlikely to need it.Everyone has Honey in a Vitamin Water Lid. Watch that they don't dump it. If they do, remove it. Don't worry about replacing it if they do. I'll take care of that when we get home.Feed in the evening before you go to bed. Remove old food (look around for it too, they can be very messy), rinse dishes with Brita water, dry before use. Serving size for each item should be about the size of your thumbnail or so. Except the chicken bone, just give them a chunk that will fit in their individual bowls. Commercial food can be added to bowls of food in a rotation. Medium tank has it's own dish for commercial food. (Baby food is frozen in chunks in the freezer on the door)TuesdayBaby food carrotsBaby food chickenBaby food bananaPinch of QuinoaWednesdayBaby food squash2-3 chunks of Franklin's cucumber, apple & carrot in each dishPinch of OatmealGood size chunk of boiled egg (white and yolk – in refrig by garlic)ThursdayBaby food Sweet potatoCrasins - 3 in big tank, 2 in each of the others (in refrig by garlic)Popcorn – 5-6 in big tank (2 in dish, rest in shower caddy with sand & honey), 2-3 in other tanksFrozen chicken bone piecesFridayBaby food Apple SauceChunk of frozen red pepperPinch of cooked white rice (in freezer with baby food)Shrimp tail - raw (in freezer with baby food)SaturdayBaby food squashBaby food bananaPinch of quinoaCrushed almonds (in freezer with baby food – split what's there between the 3 dishes, more in the large tank dish)----------------------When I am home, they get more fresh foods and little baby food but he's in over his head so I tried to make it super easy.Peg

If my mom and I were outta town, my dad would NEVERRR do that!! I'd be lucky if they got chopped up carrots and cucumbers!!

Hi, I don't see peppers, ie; ancho chili pods, or miled jalapenos. My little guys love them... is this bad?

The only peppers we offer are Bell peppers since they tend to be non-spicy compared to other peppers and since hermit crabs are so sensitive to spices in general and don't tolerate heat from said spices very well I would think it would be counterintuitive to give them something that would have even a little heat to it.

I thought that mammals could only taste the "heat" of spice from peppers and such.

I'm not so sure hermit crabs actually taste the heat but it is said to irritate their sensitive digestive systems which is why we don't recommend offering them.Bell Peppers are an excellent source of color enhancing pigments that I'm not real sure other types of peppers offer.

Ok thanks, no more peppers for my little guys!

My crabbies love bell peppers. Especially green ones!