Feeding Hermit Crabs: The Healthy Diet

So, what exactly do hermit crabs eat, you ask? What do they consume?

Good question!

Hermit crabs have a much larger palate then some people would presume, and because of that, you have a lot of choices when it comes to feeding your hermit crab. It can turn out to be a very enjoyable experience – on both your parts!

Head into any pet store, and check out their food. Chances are, you’re going to see a container of food that screams ‘safe for hermit crabs’.There are probably numerous types of commercial foods that you can grab.

Provide Your Crab with Variety

The best bet is to rotate two to three different types of hermit crab food each day. You wouldn’t want to eat the same type of food every single day – why should your hermit crab have to?

The best commercial food is what your hermit crab really wants to eat, and sometimes, specialists will tell you that the ingredients in certain foods are bad for your hermit crab.

Check the label of any potential commercial hermit crab food, and try to avoid ethoxyquin, as well as copper sulfate.

Both of these are actual ingredients in common pesticide, and many people feel very uncomfortable feeding their hermit crab these. While it’s ultimately your choice, and there is little evidence either way, steering clear would err on the safe side.

Want to give your hermit crab an extra special treat? Give him ‘people food’, something you would enjoy eating. Just make sure that he’s got enough commercial food for the nutrients as well!

He’ll love:

  • Dried cereals, crackers, and bread
  • Diced pears, bananas, coconut, and apples
  • Peeled grapes
  • Peanut butter (This one is often messy!)
  • Spinach that’s been shredded
  • Lettuce that’s been shredded
  • Cooked and cool potatoes

Remember to put everything in crab-sized bites, so they can easily pick it up and eat it. The worst thing is to struggle in order to get a grip on the food you love!

Staring at that chocolate again? We all have a sweet tooth – but did you know that your hermit crab has one, too?

Hermit crabs often enjoy munching on something that’s a little less savory and a little more sweet, and who are we to deny him of that simple pleasure in life?

Baby foods are actually a wonderful choice, as they have good nutrients and have a sweet taste that they just can’t get enough of.

Try flavors like:

  • Apples and Bananas
  • Apples, Mango, and Kiwi
  • Apple sauce
  • Sweet potatoes and Apples
  • Apples and Pears
  • Fruit medley
  • Guava Fruit Dessert
  • Papaya Fruit Dessert
  • Mango Fruit Dessert
  • Sweet Corn Casserole
  • Chiquita Bananas

In fact, you really don’t have to limit yourself to this list; anything that’s a little fruity, your hermit will love.

Feed them by hand using a large plastic spoon, or put a little in their dish for them to find themselves.

Not only will he love these treats, they’ll provide him with the nutrients he needs to stay healthy – who would have thought?


About Hermit Shells

If you have ever taken the time to observe a Hermit crab aquarium in your local pet store or at a friends home, the first thing you will notice is that although there may be only three or four crabs in the aquarium, the sand floor is littered with shells. Most people assume all those extra shells are placed there to add interest to the aquarium so that it does not look so barren and dull. While the shells are varied enough to indeed add interest this certainly is not their main purpose. Those additional shells littering the sand are important to the health and well being of the Hermit crab.

One Shell Does Not Fit All

Just as one style of home does not suit every persons individual taste, one shell does not fit every hermit crab’s individual taste. Being individuals, each crab is going to prefer his own style when it comes to choosing his Hermit shell. While some Hermit crabs prefer round holed shells, other prefer a more elongated shells, or even a slit type opening. The Hermit shell your crab chooses is one that fits his personal taste and is the easiest to carry around.

A single shell will not fit any one Hermit crab for his entire life. Just as a child grows and needs new clothes, when a Hermit crab grows he needs to be outfitted with a new hermit shell. Having a variety of shells in a variety of sizes will help your crab to find the hermit shell that is just the right size for him. For that reason, owners of hermit crabs need to keep a variety of shapes, sizes and style of hole openings available to their Hermit crab to meet his growing needs.

A Hermit shell that is too small will not offer your Hermit crab the protection he needs to feel safe. Too big a shell and he won’t be able to carry it with him as well. So, it is necessary for your crabs health and happiness to offer a variety of shells so there is always one that will meet his changing needs.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Just as you and your family occasionally like to get away and stay in a new place, so too does a Hermit crab like a little variety from time to time. Although, you will rarely see a Hermit crab out of a shell, he will when the mood strikes him try on different hermit shells from time to time out of a desire to have a little variety. Sometimes, he will move into the new shell for awhile if he likes it better than his home. Other times, he will simple try out something new just to see how it feels.

The Kind of Shells That You Should Provide

When providing a hemit crab with a variety of hermit shells, it helps to know what general kinds of shells a hermit crab may prefer. There are many shells that make good homes for Hermit crabs and here are some different kinds many people provide for their crabs to try on.

  • Aerolata
  • African Turbo
  • Babylone
  • Fox shells
  • Mountain land shells
  • Pink Murex

Keep in mind that this is just a partial list and there are several other kinds of shells Hermit crabs like to try on as well.

You will also want to avoid shells that are painted or have holes or cracks in them as they do not make good hermit shells.

Where to Buy Shells

Finding a variety of hermit shells may pose a bit of a problem. While the pet store where the hermit crab was purchased will offer some shells, pet stores generally lack variety. Visiting craft stores may also lead to some interesting finds, but again the variety will probably be lacking. However, there are many online stores that will offer a wide variety of shells that are suitable for your hermit crab and these shells are usually quite reasonably priced.

Now that you know why all those shells are decorating the sand of all those Hermit crab aquariums it makes a lot of sense to see them there doesn’t it? Providing a Hermit crab with a variety of shells helps to keep him healthy and happy and adds interests not only for the Hermit crab himself, but for those viewing the aquarium as well.


Hermit Crab Pet Information for your Hyper Allergic Child

Your child has been begging for a pet for a long time. Due to his allergies the traditional puppy, kitten or rabbit as a pet simply isn’t an option, birds are too messy and far too noisy, then someone suggests that a hermit crab pet might be the right pet for your child. However, as a parent you know that should your child grow disinterested in caring for his new pet the job will be left up to you and if you are going to end up caring for a pet you don’t want one that is going to take a lot of time and care and you want it to be at least mildly interesting. So, you need to know at least little about hermit crabs to decide if one is right for both you and your child.

What Make a Hermit Crab A Good Pet

There are many things that make hermit crabs great pets. First, they are absolutely fascinating little creatures and can be very entertaining to watch as they move about, climbing everything in their their way and even moving objects that stand in the way of their getting where they want to go. They can actually provide you and your child with a portion of your days entertainment just watching them move along and have the time of their lives.

They are also very low cost when you consider the price of other more traditional kinds of animals. What with shots and vet care and other things that most traditional animals need on a regular basis you can end up spending a lot of money on a puppy or kitten. Hermit crabs needs on the other hand are reasonably inexpensive to meet.

Hermit crabs that are cared for properly also have a long lifespan. Most hermit crabs that receive proper care can live up to 20 years. This means that your child and his pet can not only grow together but your child can enjoy this pet for many years to come.

They also take up very little space when you consider the size of rabbit cage you would need or even an indoor kennel for a fair sized dog to sleep in. A 10 to 25 gallon aquarium will house three or four crabs quite comfortably allowing your child to have three or four of these sociable pets in less space than it would take to house one of any other animal.

With a hermit crab you also are not going to have to worry about finding any surprise puddles or messes on your carpet or worry about your favorite slippers being chewed up.

Will My Child Be Able to Actually Play With His Hermit Crab?

While your child will not be able to take his new pet for a walk or teach him to play fetch like he could a dog. Nor can he cuddle him like he might a kitten or a bunny, your child will certainly be able to interact with his hermit crab. He will soon learn how to gently lift his new pet out of his cage and place him in the palm of his hand so that he can look at him up close and talk with him. As the hermit crab gets larger he can place him on the floor occasionally and watch him walk around as long as he is closely supervised.

Because these little creatures are so fascinating your child will enjoy handling him and will even bond with his new pets. There won’t be a problem there. Other ways your child will like interacting with his hermit crab pet is by rearranging some of the climbing items in the aquarium so that his crab can enjoy new experiences. Younger children especially enjoy doing this as it is kind of like the road building they do when playing with their toy cars.

What Happens if My Child Gets Bored With This Pet?

Learning to take care of a pet teaches a child responsibility, but there are times when children do grow bored of their pet and when that happens it is the parents who must take over the responsibility of the pets care. One of the nice things about hermit crabs is that taking care of them is really quite simple and easy and they are such fascinating little creatures that children don’t seem to grow bored of them as quickly as they do other pets. Still, it is important that you make sure that your child is taking proper care of any pet, his hermit crab pet included and this may require reminders and even supervision to ensure the crabs well being.

Asking about your child’s pet and being interested when he talks about his hermit crab will help ensure his continued interest in his pet. Children can sense when their parents don’t feel something is important and if you are uninterested in his tales about his pet your child may get the impression that you don’t think it is very important. On the other hand, if you show an active interest in the hermit crab and his fascinating ways your child is much more likely to remain fascinated himself.

If your child shows signs of becoming bored with his new pet then you might suggest that the two of you take care of the crab together. Helping with feeding and changing water will not only be a pleasant way for you and your child to spend time together but it may renew his interest in his pet because he has someone sharing his interest with him.

Hermit crabs may be a little unusual, but for a child who is allergic to the dander of more furry pets, it can be a wonderful pet for your child to own and love. While he may not be able to teach his hermit crab pet tricks he will certainly be able to interact and bond with it in a variety of ways.