Crab is being very strange

[krabby_katie]

Mine don't like krill at all.

[ladybug15057]

Chitin is found in the exo's of shrimp, lobsters, insects, etc. Not all insect exo's are safe though, those insects which are poisonous I would steer away from. There are 4 freeze dried foods that I buy that contain chitin...ZooMed Reptile Cricket, Leopard gecko food, Tetra Freeze dried baby shrimp exo's, and the Anole food. (as well as offering the fresh too) Here at HCP there is a link back image to the CrabbyWiki, I have added info there too about chitin. Sounds like your hermies do get a well balanced diet!

[HermieLove19]

Thank you lots for the information I want to make sure they get everything they need in their diet. They do love bugs. Mealworms are a favorite. One of my crabs sat in a dish with two mealworms for an hour and a half and when he was done there was nothing left! I'll pick up what you recommended while I'm at work tomorrow.

[erikleeson]

My crabs love mealworms and shrimps. I will try krill soon aswell. Eugene looks so cool!

[ladybug15057]

Mealworms also have an exo, which contains chitin too. I buy the Fluckers freeze dried meal worms, but little warning... the freeze dried crickets, anole and gecko food... there IS a strong smell to them. Seems here though the more a food stinks the better these hermies like it!

[erikleeson]

How much are the freeze dried mealies? They have them at pet land, but there was no price tag. That one jar would last a long time.



This is what you talking about right? I get my mealworms from my reptile store, and put them in my very cold basement freezer. And presto, there you go, but I would rather have the kind in the picture.

[ladybug15057]

Yep, that be them. I got mine at Petco almost 2 months ago and the were around $8. I do grind them up prior to offering them this way all can have a bite as opposed to one dragging them off and a couple not getting any.

[HermieLove19]

I've given them live mealworms and every other bug offered has been freeze dried. I looked up an article on chitin and it says butterflies also contain chitin. It seems odd and cruel but could butterflies be eaten by hermit crabs?

[erikleeson]

I think so. What about houseflies? Caterpillars?

[emmac350]

I'd be careful with butterflies and caterpillars. A lot of species of butterfly are toxic, such as the common and beautiful Monarch butterfly. I'm not sure if crabs would be affected by them, but I wouldn't want to try. Some caterpillars have stingers and poison in them as well, and might be able to harm yoru crabs.