How to Feed Your Hermit Crab Properly to Ensure Its Long Life

There are all kinds of animals that can become pets. One such a pet is the hermit crab and if you own one of these creatures, you may wonder if you're actually feeding your hermit the right kind of food. Believe it or not, hermit crabs have a big, salacious appetite because these animals are not picky about the foods they will consume. Anything a human eats, they will consume as well. In saying this, however, they do need decayed wood and leafs to get the tannin they require to growth healthily.

Feed Your Hermit Crabs The Right Nutrients

When a hermit crab is captive, the diet requirements are completely different than if it was living in the wild. The reason for this difference is that humans are unable to recreate the natural habitat and food that would occur in the wild. Wild crabs would thrive on decaying meat, rotting fruits and wood as well as plants that have been washed up onto land.

When you've got a crab for a pet, you must pay special attention to the nutrients they require to stay healthy and grow. They must consume plenty of calcium and carotene to keep them healthy.

They do well on their own to pick out the healthiest foods. Experts and veterinarians say that certain brands of crab food are unhealthy for your pet. Thus, when you're shopping for crab food, be sure to read labels and see what the ingredients are. Stay away from foods that include ethoxyquin and copper sulfate as ingredients, as these are considered pesticide ingredients.

Hermit Crabs Can Consume Human Food

Make sure to feed your pet a well-balanced diet by rotating the kinds of foods you feed it. Water dishes should be rotated as well. Foods you consume can be given to them as a treat. Foods that you can give them include:

- Apples (coconut and diced pears are fine too)

- Bread (crackers and dry cereals are also good)

- Peanut butter

- Peeled grapes

- Potatoes (make sure they are cooked and have cooled down)

- Shredded lettuce

- Shredded spinach

Be sure you cut these foods into sizes that allow your crab to grab and eat it.

Hermit Crabs Do Have A Sweet Tooth

Many people and animals have a sweet tooth and hermit crabs are no exception. They love to have foods that are less than healthy for them from time to time including baby food of different flavor varieties such as:

- Apples and Bananas

- Apples and Pears

- Applesauce

- Chiquita Bananas

- Fruit Medley

- Guava Fruit Dessert

- Mango Fruit Dessert

- Mango, Kiwi and Apples

- Papaya Fruit Dessert

- Sweet Corn Casserole

- Sweet Potato and Apples

Using Seashells For Your Hermit Crab's Food and Water

Use small, shallow seashells to feed your pet food and water. Seashells will help to give them calcium that's absorbed by the food and water. Make sure you have seashells that allow your hermit crab to get in and out easily. Before giving it water, de-chlorinate first.

They are wonderful pets, as they provide lots of entertainment and fun. To make sure they stay entertaining and fun for some time to come, you must feed your pet the right kinds of foods and nutrients.

Nick A. is hermit crab enthusiast. For more information and advice on feeding hermit crabs please visit http://www.hermitcrabland.com