My hermit crabs are not eating much protein

tnt4eva · Post by **tnt4eva** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 3:17 am

I have tried salmon, shrimp meat, beef, chicken and boiled egg. I think the salmon was nibbled once or twice but for the most part it's ignored.

They do how ever love shrimp exo (they are generally reduced to a crumb or two overnight) and also love peanut butter and walnuts.

I'm concerned that the nuts and shrimp exo aren't going to give them enough protein. Any tips or advice

tnt4eva · Post by **tnt4eva** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:18 am

Shortly after I posted this, Ghost decided to prove me a liar and dragged the salmon out of the food dish to eat it :roll:

CrabbyIrene · Post by **CrabbyIrene** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:17 am

I think they go in spurts,sometimes they eat it everday & other times you'd think I put poison in the food dish. I think they know what they're bodies need & will eat accordingly

P.S. Good job Ghost!

Post by **wodesorel** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:20 am

My Es rarely ever touch proteins - they subsist primarily on fruits. At first I was worried about it, but they've been that way for almost a year, and I've tried everything under the sun to tempt them.

The PPs will eat practically any protein I give them, but the Es just aren't too into it.

suebee · Post by **suebee** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 2:33 pm

Have you tried freeze dried meats? I find they love the texture of them.. As fast as i put them in the tank they eat them up.. I offer them in the hermit crab dollar store..

tigermoon89 · Post by **tigermoon89** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:49 pm

I'm having the same problem with my E's as well. I offer both freeze dried and fresh (canned or frozen). They don't seem to be interested.

tnt4eva · Post by **tnt4eva** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:02 pm

You would not believe the mess they made last night!!!! Previously only Ghost and Speedy were out, but last night one of the big 'uns, Spider put in an appearance and I think he must have been hungry, because the salmon is gone and has been replaced by a pile of poop.

Nuts and shrimp exo are by far their favourites, so I'm hoping that is enough...

The more I hear about E's the more they sound so very similar to Aussies.

Maybe I need to try a wider range of seafoods. I want to get some Cyclopeeze but if they don't eat it - I. Will. Be. Mad. It's so flipping expensive.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 1:13 am

I put a little bit of raw mince in there and mine went nuts!

sugarselections · Post by **sugarselections** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 11:11 am

tnt4eva wrote:I want to get some Cyclopeeze but if they don't eat it - I. Will. Be. Mad. It's so flipping expensive.

I've been trying to get my crabs to eat Cyclopeeze for the longest time and they won't go near it. I finally had to mix it in with Colorado Care Co Kibble (which my crabs love) to get them to eat it.

tnt4eva · Post by **tnt4eva** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 3:05 pm

sugarselections wrote: I've been trying to get my crabs to eat Cyclopeeze for the longest time and they won't go near it. I finally had to mix it in with Colorado Care Co Kibble (which my crabs love) to get them to eat it.

Oh. I see.

I really want some, especially for when I get Straws, to help maintain their colour.

How fine it is? Powdering or more flaky? Just trying to work out what I'd hide it in.

sugarselections · Post by **sugarselections** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 4:53 pm

tnt4eva wrote:I really want some, especially for when I get Straws, to help maintain their colour.

How fine it is? Powdering or more flaky? Just trying to work out what I'd hide it in.

It's an orange powder.

tnt4eva · Post by **tnt4eva** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 4:57 pm

Maybe I can hide it in their peanut butter and honey

scyllarus · Post by **scyllarus** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:20 pm

i actually have trouble getting my crabs to eat at all, so at least you know yours aren't starving themselves xD it's actually very strange - i feed them the recommended varied diet - fruits, veggies, proteins of all sorts - and i normally don't see them even near the food dish. my tinies, who are in a different tank, eat ravenously, but the other nine just track sand everywhere.

even most of the normal crabby treats - peanut butter, honey, shrimp, even coconut - are more or less ignored. they all seem happy and healthy, i just don't know what they're snacking on!

tigermoon89 · Post by **tigermoon89** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 11:54 pm

tigermoon89 wrote:I'm having the same problem with my E's as well. I offer both freeze dried and fresh (canned or frozen). They don't seem to be interested.

I found Flukers medley for turtles on sale at Petsmart the other day. It has dried crickets, meal worms, and grass hoppers. No other added ingredients are listed.

I fed it to my guys last night and it was almost gone by this evening!!!

Hermitcrablover12 · Post by **Hermitcrablover12** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 3:55 pm

organic tuna works magic.