Am I feeding proper food to my crabs?

[cahearns]

What is the volume of your main tank?
45 gallons

How many hermit crabs do you currently have? How big are they?
5. Smallest is in an ISO tank (since 8/6/10). 3 are medium and 1 is large.

How long have you had the hermit crab(s) that you are concerned about?
Since July 2010.

What substrate or combination of substrates are you using? How deep is it?
Play sand from Home Depot mixed with a little Crab Island Jungle Bed. 2-3 inches deep.

What do you feed your hermit crabs?
Hermit Haven Hermit Crab Food, JarassiDiet Easi-Mix Shrimp & snails for Hermit Crabs, FMR Land Hermit Crab Treat, Crab Island Fruit & Flower Crab Food. I also bought canned and dehydrated fruit for Hermit Crabs. I have given them cooked stew beef and they like it.

Do you use distilled, bottled or tap water? If you are using a dechlorinator, what brand is it? Does it state to remove all heavy metals, chlorine and chloramines?
I use spring water.

What brand of sea salt are you using to supply your hermit crabs with salt water?
Zoo Med's Hermit Crab Salt Water Conditioner.

What heat source are you using and where is it positioned?
No heat source at this time. The tank stays at 78 degrees. Corner of room with subdude lighting.

Have you calibrated your thermometer(s) and hygrometer?
I have a digital thermometer/humidity gage.

What is the air temperature range and humidity inside the tank? If you are using an under tank heater, what is the temperature range of the substrate (it is likely to be different to the air temperature range)?
77-78 temperature and 70%-80% humidity.

Do you have any photos of your tank or hermit crab(s) of concern? If yes, please attach them to your post.
No.

[Wai]

I'm just making a quick reply here because it's almost 2 am here and I need to sleep!

Hermit Haven Hermit Crab Food, JarassiDiet Easi-Mix Shrimp & snails for Hermit Crabs, FMR Land Hermit Crab Treat, Crab Island Fruit & Flower Crab Food.

Commercial hermit crab food products often contain potentially harmful preservatives such as ethoxyquin and copper sulphate. I would stop feeding those and throw them out. Feed plenty of organic fruits and vegetables and meat instead.

Zoo Med's Hermit Crab Salt Water Conditioner.

This is not considered a proper salt water mix for hermit crabs. I strongly suggest that you buy sea salt approved for use in salt water fish tanks.

Please take time to read through the Crab Care section.

[ladybug15057]

What substrate or combination of substrates are you using? How deep is it?
Play sand from Home Depot mixed with a little Crab Island Jungle Bed. 2-3 inches deep.

This substrate in not recommended for use with hermies. The ‘forest bedding’ they mention

http://www.petdiscounters.com/Crab-Isla ... p6933.html

Is very likely to consist of pine or other conifer type items within it. If you read the Crab Care section, you will note it is also not recommended to use calsi sand as a substrate.

Do you use distilled, bottled or tap water? If you are using a dechlorinator, what brand is it? Does it state to remove all heavy metals, chlorine and chloramines?

I use spring water.

Even though there aren’t cloramines or chlorine in the spring water there is the possibility of heavy metals so a dechlorinator should be used. One cannot tell which spring water bottle they are buying and the first few bottles will be cleaner than say bottles 200 or so due to the filters used.

What is the air temperature range and humidity inside the tank? If you are using an under tank heater, what is the temperature range of the substrate (it is likely to be different to the air temperature range)?
77-78 temperature and 70%-80% humidity.

77-78*F? What is the temp of the substrates cooler end? How do you take the temperature of the substrate?

[CrabbyJo]

To elaborate on the substrate temp issue, it is important to know the temp of the substrate as well as the air temp. A temperature range is needed for the crabs, namely a cooler end and a warmer end, so the crabs can move to a temperature zone that is more comfortable for them. They regulate their body temperature this way, which greatly affects their digestion and growth, so it is important. I have found my crabs will sometimes dig in substrate that is cozy warm, but will choose to molt in the cooler end (substrate temp 72*F) While this is a very cool temperature for the air, and the crabs are not healthy when this is the only temp they have, they do seem to enjoy molting in the cool sand.
This is only what I've observed with my own crabs, and it is not always the norm. I have had a crab molt in the warmer area in the moss pit, where the temp was closer to 75*F (air temp).
So we do need to offer them a choice, and they will choose the best option for their health.

This is why ladybug has asked again what the substrate temperature is in your tank. You can easily take it with a probe style thermometer often used in kitchens, and it is very inexpensive at any store like Walmart.

As for the food question, here is a good beginners list:
http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... =epicurean
You will also supplement it with fresh (organic preferably, but if you can't get organic, at least wash them extremely well to remove all pesticide residue) fruits and veggies and meats you have cooked without seasoning. Your crabs will also enjoy the occasional crushed chicken bone with the marrow exposed (or beef or pork or whatever you have).
Hope that helps, and don't discount the importance of a good seaweed or algae!
They also love organic earthworm castings (that's earthworm poop to you and me) which just looks and smells and feels like black dirt. Very rich in nutrients for them.
Hope this helped!

[Hermitcrablove12]

Hello, I'm curious if un-organic is toxic to crabs. Is it?

[ZuZu]

well organic means grown without pestcides so my guess is that what is considered harmful about un-organic foods is that chemicals and pesticides may still be on the foods you would give to hermies. which would be harmful to their health.

[ladybug15057]

Hermitcrablove12 please read CrabbyJo's reply above your question. (about 1/2 way down her reply about organic/non organic food)

[CoolBlue]

Im feeding my hermit crabs Zoo Med hermit crab food, is that ok?

[ladybug15057]

CoolBlue please read the posts above as well as the embedded links for food. Also do as Wai suggested in his posting, read the Crab Care section.

[Wai]

Im feeding my hermit crabs Zoo Med hermit crab food, is that ok?

No.