HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I believe I am one that over feeds my crabs. After i'm done mixing everything together I probably have at least a tablespoon worth of food in their dry dish. I only scoop up a little of each thing but by the time I add 4 or 5 things it's a lot.

What would be an "average" amount of food for 3 PP's and 5 Straws all large. 1 teaspoon?

Motörcrab wrote:I believe I am one that over feeds my crabs. After i'm done mixing everything together I probably have at least a tablespoon worth of food in their dry dish. I only scoop up a little of each thing but by the time I add 4 or 5 things it's a lot.

What would be an "average" amount of food for 3 PP's and 5 Straws all large. 1 teaspoon?

Exactly. I do the same thing. Small scoop of each but after so many different items it's a full bowl. I'd like to know this as well.
Here's tonight's supper:




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I tend to only use a teaspoon when feeding dry food. The crabs always get fresh food no matter what.


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@Motörcrab and @ciaraalston ~ you would gauge how much you are over feeding by how much is left in your dishes in the morning If there is a lot~ you are over feeding. If there is just a little bit of food then you are okay. Better to over feed than under


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wodesorel wrote:Just try not to feed the same thing twice in a row, and try to always have a protein and fruit available.

Why can't we feed them the same thing twice in a row? I've done that for the whole time I've had crabs. I started keeping a log of the food I feed them here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0
But for example, I fed them Avocado two days in a row. I didn't think that was bad...

ciaraalston wrote:

Motörcrab wrote:I believe I am one that over feeds my crabs. After i'm done mixing everything together I probably have at least a tablespoon worth of food in their dry dish. I only scoop up a little of each thing but by the time I add 4 or 5 things it's a lot.

What would be an "average" amount of food for 3 PP's and 5 Straws all large. 1 teaspoon?

Exactly. I do the same thing. Small scoop of each but after so many different items it's a full bowl. I'd like to know this as well.
Here's tonight's supper:




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We have the same dish. Do you have a problem with food sticking to it? I can never get mine completely clean.

@ciaraalston If your tank allows it (room wise) - keep a separate dish for calcium items. Those things should be kept in the tank at all times anyway. I keep a dish that has a mixture of calcium items in each of my crabitats. In it I keep calcium carbonate, fine oyster shell, crushed eggshell and powdered eggshell. I also put greensand in this dish. Then, I take the coarse oyster shell and sprinkle it on my substrate. This way you aren't throwing those things away. Just an idea It works for me!

@heyitseggs I didn't look at your link, but typically you want to avoid feeding the same thing twice in a row so the crabs don't get create a food aversion, or get bored with their food. Also, by adding new things to the tank, you entice your crabbies to come check it out!

GotButterflies wrote:@Motörcrab and @ciaraalston ~ you would gauge how much you are over feeding by how much is left in your dishes in the morning If there is a lot~ you are over feeding. If there is just a little bit of food then you are okay. Better to over feed than under


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So simple! Why didn't I think of that!!!

I change their food once every day or to

I am an overfeeder, just because my crabs seem to be messy with the food, so I tend to offer more so others can have a chance


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GotButterflies wrote:@ciaraalston If your tank allows it (room wise) - keep a separate dish for calcium items. Those things should be kept in the tank at all times anyway. I keep a dish that has a mixture of calcium items in each of my crabitats. In it I keep calcium carbonate, fine oyster shell, crushed eggshell and powdered eggshell. I also put greensand in this dish. Then, I take the coarse oyster shell and sprinkle it on my substrate. This way you aren't throwing those things away. Just an idea It works for me!

@heyitseggs I didn't look at your link, but typically you want to avoid feeding the same thing twice in a row so the crabs don't get create a food aversion, or get bored with their food. Also, by adding new things to the tank, you entice your crabbies to come check it out!

I'll give them like avocado two days in a row but its accompanied by different foods. Is that okay?

GotButterflies wrote:@ciaraalston If your tank allows it (room wise) - keep a separate dish for calcium items. Those things should be kept in the tank at all times anyway. I keep a dish that has a mixture of calcium items in each of my crabitats. In it I keep calcium carbonate, fine oyster shell, crushed eggshell and powdered eggshell. I also put greensand in this dish. Then, I take the coarse oyster shell and sprinkle it on my substrate. This way you aren't throwing those things away. Just an idea It works for me!

@heyitseggs I didn't look at your link, but typically you want to avoid feeding the same thing twice in a row so the crabs don't get create a food aversion, or get bored with their food. Also, by adding new things to the tank, you entice your crabbies to come check it out!

I'll give them like avocado two days in a row but its accompanied by different foods. Is that okay?

heyitseggs2 wrote:

GotButterflies wrote:@ciaraalston If your tank allows it (room wise) - keep a separate dish for calcium items. Those things should be kept in the tank at all times anyway. I keep a dish that has a mixture of calcium items in each of my crabitats. In it I keep calcium carbonate, fine oyster shell, crushed eggshell and powdered eggshell. I also put greensand in this dish. Then, I take the coarse oyster shell and sprinkle it on my substrate. This way you aren't throwing those things away. Just an idea It works for me!

@heyitseggs I didn't look at your link, but typically you want to avoid feeding the same thing twice in a row so the crabs don't get create a food aversion, or get bored with their food. Also, by adding new things to the tank, you entice your crabbies to come check it out!

I'll give them like avocado two days in a row but its accompanied by different foods. Is that okay?

I give some of the same things 2 days in a row but at the same time also offer different things each day if that makes sense? I’m still learning what they prefer over other things...

I don't think crabs mind having one or two items repeat on their menu. It's like any type of leftovers. At Thanksgiving most people, not me being strictly plant based, the other 96% of America have turkey for their big meal. Then it's turkey this, turkey that for the next 4-5 days. By the end of the week everyone is tired of turkey. I'm sure the crabs are the same way.

So, do yall count crickets and worms as 1 protein or 2 when you serve them together?

EDITED TO ADD:
Wouldn't other things count as their proteins? Like powdered eggs? Or did you mean you serve at least 2 animal proteins a day? @GotButterflies