HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi, I went to the petstore looking for a calcium chew for my crabs, which I've purchased before and my crabs liked the them. They were all out and instead the sales clerk recommended cuttlebone. My biggest hermit has been nibbling on it for hours! I guess he really needed it, after his last molt, he came up with one slightly bent leg, I guess his molt didn't go well and he actually came up a little sooner than expected. Hopefully, the cuttlebone will supplement his current diet and he will have a good molt next time!


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Cuttlebone is a great source for the hermies as well:) Manu HCA members stick it up in the sub like a surf board and the hermies climb all over it while munching!


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Lol ooh I have to try that! I'll stick it up in the substrate like a surfboard and wait till the crabbies are climbing on it, then snap a photo!!! Hermit Crabs are so much fun!


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Yes and can be very silly too! Looking forward to some crabby pics ^_^


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My big hermie is still nibbling away on the cuttlebone, it's been hours since he started, lol! He really needed it I guess. I don't want to disturb him while he's enjoying his treat, I'll have to snap photo tomorrow night


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My crabs love their cuttlebone. I stand it up in the substrate like a surfboard, and they make fairly quick work of them.

I can't wait to try that, standing it up like a surfboard! It will be a good photo opportunity!


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I, too, do the "surfboard" thing and when that piece gets worn down into a thin spike, I flake it with a fingernail to add into their dry base mix.

It's funny, but another one of my crabs came up from a molt just yesterday so I put another piece of cuttlebone in the tank. My big hermie, Dirk, the one that was working on the first piece of cuttlebone, saw this new piece come in and went over to it, grabbed it with his big pincher and dragged it off to a corner to keep for himself!!! These creatures are just fascinating and amusing too!!! I love my hermies!!!


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I tried an oyster shell found at the beach, and a cuttlebone. They love them!

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I'll have to try an oyster shell sometime. I have to get another cuttlebone from the petstore, maybe I'll stick it in the substrate like a surfboard and take a picture!!!


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nancat wrote:I'll have to try an oyster shell sometime. I have to get another cuttlebone from the petstore, maybe I'll stick it in the substrate like a surfboard and take a picture!!!


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Hermies Kitchen on Etsy has free shipping for orders over $15 right now and they do have bags of crushed oyster shells. Food prices are very reasonable IMO.

Code is TWOYEARS for free shipping. I forget when it expires.


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Also, crushed oyster can be bought in the bird section of most pet shops for, like, $3 for a box that lasts ages.