While most people might get their pet hermit crabs from a local pet shop it can be beneficial to learn about where hermit crabs come from. Here are a few.
Turns out that jute hemp and sisal rope are safe source.
What preservatives are bad for hermit crabs. There are some concerns about the preservatives and ingredients found in these foods as some are known to be harmful to hermit crabs. More specifically the antioxidant Ethoxyquin Copper Sulfate and BHT butylhydroxytoluene. Brine shrimp krill crab cuisine sea plankton ONLY SAFE if no preservatives ethoxyquin fish meal copper sulfate are present Hollyhock flowers Honeydew Melon HuckleberriesBilberries Irish Moss Impatiens flowers Jasmine flowers Kale Kelp calcium Kiwi Lobster with crushed exoskeleton Mango Marigold flowers calendula Marion Berries.
If you use oat-based milk for moisture so much the better. In addition to oatmeal you could also offer oatcakes for your hermit crabs to nibble on. These products can be broken apart and tackled at will.
They also do not rot ensuring that you will not. Watch out for preservatives such as butylhydroxytoluene ethoxyquin copper sulfate and others as they could possibly have a negative effect on hermit crab health. When choosing check the label for ingredients.
Cholla Choya Logs Hemp nets Cork Plastic plants Eco Earth Terra Cotta pots etc Instant Ocean and Oceanic salt water. Anything from the Hermit Crab Addiction Store. Metal Paver Sand Pine logs or Half pine logs Chlorinated Tap Water Most Commercial foods and water conditioners.
However it is often found that pre-packaged hermit crab foods contain preservatives which can be harmful to hermit crabs. Some brands do market products that are free from things like copper sulphate. An all-natural diet is heavily suggested to maintain a healthy hermit crab.
Hermit crabs have shown that they prefer a variety in their diets. Honey is a great energy boost for molting crabs or new arrivals but should only be given as a treat. This stuff is also quite expensive COMMERCIAL CRAB FOODS.
Exercise EXTREME caution with them. Certain foods that are supposedly hermit-safe. Water Ager or Conditioners are very important if the quality of water is not suitable for use with fish in an aquarium and most tap water is not.
It is important to remove harmful substances from tap water such as chlorine chloramines and heavy metals which can make hermit crabs ill. Hermit crabs require both freshwater and saltwater water sources to survive. You may also choose to use bottled spring water instead of water from your tap to avoid chlorine exposure.
The water dishes should be big enough for your hermit crabs to submerge themselves in but not so deep that they can drown. Do hermit crabs need water to swim in. Turns out that jute hemp and sisal rope are safe source.
Both of the recommended products are made of hemp which may mold or fall apart after a long time. Well at least the material is hermit crab friendly. Another thing to consider with a rope course for your hermit crabs is whats going to hold it up.
Dirty substrate can lead to mold which can be harmful to your hermit crabs. Change it every 6 months. However every month you should do a brief check to see if there is any mold.
This long-life produce may contain preservatives that would harm your hermit crabs. Pulp from a fresh pumpkin or pumpkin seeds from a health food store are packed with goodness. The only drawback of pumpkin is that its a messy fruit.
In general avoid onion garlic and citrus. When picking any kind of dried meat it is critical to look at the ingredient list for a pesticide called Ethoxyquin. It is a common preservative in many commercial hermit crab and fish foods and is poisonous to your crabs.
Basil is safe see comment by Jedediah. Dried parsley must be kept out of the sun to retain its color. Garlic is on the unsafe list.
Onion is on the unsafe list. Several herbs are known to be safe for hermit crabs. Here are a few.
Chamomile aka Manzanilla Parsley. Yes hermit crabs can drink blueberry juice as safely as they can eat the berries. However if you give your pet a choice among the two they will most likely choose the raw fruits.
If you want to feed your crabs blueberry juice buy blueberries and blend their juice at home. Land hermit crabs are pets that require low maintenance especially when it comes to their diet because they will eat just about anything. Make sure that they do not have too much chemicals or preservatives.
This can be bad for your hermit crabs health. Make sure that the water you give to your pet hermit crabs is free from chlorine. It is perfectly possible for hermit crabs to eat watermelon and that they actually love it.
The high amount of water content helps them to regulate their body temperature as the food passes through their digestive tract thus making it a very healthy. Everything in the safe for hermit crabs category may be served raw cooked freeze-dried or dehydrated unsulphured without preservatives unless otherwise noted. Hermit crabs are sometimes called tree crabs because they will climb trees to eat insects and vegetation.
Do not however buy painted toys as paint could be harmful to crabs if it is ingested. Natural rocks and seashells that you pick up at the beach are great things to scatter around the crabitat. Hermit crabs are an interesting choice for a pet and can be quite fascinating to watch and care for.
While most people might get their pet hermit crabs from a local pet shop it can be beneficial to learn about where hermit crabs come from. Considering they do need a water source hermit crabs can be found in the ocean. Hermit crabs are scavengers and eat a varied diet in the wild and need lots of protein plant protein and calcium to be happy and healthy.
Store brand foods contain preservatives that are not good for hermit crabs and can lead to stress and death. Hermit crabs also do not like to eat the same foods more then a few days in a row so if you. Dangerous Foods When Feeding Hermit Crabs.
Hermit crabs have such an eclectic palette as they enjoy all kinds of foods ranging from fruits vegetables breads and grains meat and seafood. It seems you can feed them almost any type of food straight from the grocery store but there are some precautions youll want to take to properly prepare.