HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Thank you, GB!

I have a question about turnip greens. Do these have to be cooked or can they be fed raw?

My crabs tend to prefer heavier medium sized shells like Apple Murex. I do offer turbos, but the crabs go for the heavier shells.

Tonight my crabs are getting banana, mango, pineapple, cilantro, asparagus, broccoli, avocado, shrimp, bloodworms and crushed oyster shell.

My crabs go 6-7 months in between molts.

This is giving me an idea to give my crabs a mix of honey, olive oil and eggs and mix in some of the blood worms and shrimp that they like. I may even consider mixing in ground flax seed and chia seed.

Okay, I’ll try offering banana, apple and orange.

I think that might be my issue. Is that I’m only offering them one thing and they want more variety. As soon I start offering more variety, they will start eating more.

I avoid anything with the word “meal” in the ingredients list. Fish meal, soy meal, etc.

I currently don’t have anyone underground at the moment. I only have two crabs. I apologize for the confusion. I think this is what I’m going to try:

Blackberry
Strawberry
Asparagus
Broccoli
Blood worms
Shrimp
Crushed Oyster Shell
Egg yolk

I do give them shrimp and blood worms. That’s what they’re eating right now.

Xeno, to answer your question, no, I’m not giving them other things in addition to the fruit. Maybe I need to try giving them fruit, vegetables, protein, calcium and fats in their food bowl. Then let them seek out what they need at the moment.

Right now, my crabs are only wanting proteins and nothing else. I’ve tried feeding them a mix of blueberries, blackberries and strawberries but the crabs weren’t interested. But when I switched it back to bloodworms and shrimp, they started eating. I’m suspecting they may be pre-molt.

Xeno, with my crabs, turbos are just the opposite! They won’t wear turbos but Apple murex shells get taken right away.

I only have two crabs in a 20 Gallon tank. Is 45 shells enough shells for both crabs? I’m thinking 5 per crab. They’re a mixture of Apple murex (a very popular shell with my crabs at the moment), magpies, turbos (NOT a popular shell with my crabs), fox shells, whale eyes and bursa.