Newb - feeding frequency

[brujja]

hello to all!!!!

yes, i'm a newb... to both the forum, and the hermit crab keeping world.... as in day 2 .

i'm not entirely uneducated though... i researched, studied, and read all about hermies for about two weeks before i dove in. nonetheless... i have questions.

in regards to feeding... i was wondering... how often do you feed your hermies?? i presume once a day? ... since, they seem to sleep most of the day anyway... ???? or should there be food available ALL the time? i'm feeding them real food... as in salmon, and rice.. etc... i don't want to leave these in the cage longer than necessary.

this seems like pretty basic info that should be out there... but oddly, i found nothing on this subject anywhere.... is this supposed to be common sense, and i'm just that daft?

what's the proper feeding procedure when first introducing the hermies to their new home?

i put food out for them as soon as i introduced them to their new home... i saw one brave crabbie go for the gold... but i have no idea if anyone else ate in the middle of the night.

Obviously their behavior's is bound to change as soon as they become more comfortable in their new environment, and less afraid of me... so we can get to know each other better... but for now... what's the best move?

[emmac350]

Can I drop by for a meal with your crabs? Salmon and rice...yum! Do try to make sure that you get the crabs meat and calcium (eggshells work great for calcium) every day and try to get fruits and veggies as often as you can. Protein will help them molt successfully and keep them from fighting and killing each other. Anything you eat, before seasoning, is usually safe (not hot dogs or sausage or anything like that) - chicken, fish, beef, pork, turkey, shellfish, etc. are all enjoyed by crabs! It's recommended that you steam/microwave/sauté it before offering to keep the tank from becoming a bacterial breeder.

As for feeding, fresh shouldn't be left in beyond 24 hours. There's no harm in leaving it in all day - I noticed three or four of mine eating during the day, so I always made sure there was food available whenever they wanted it.

[brujja]

thanks for the feedback guys!!! it really helps. it's day 3 of having my new crabbies with me... it's all very nerve wrecking. last thing i wanna do is kill these guys out of ignorance.

i was reading through the forum last night, and had a little freak out when i realized i had purchased HBH brands for both my sea salt and my tap water treatment. the irony is that, i had originally picked up products made for fish tanks... and then i saw the products made for hermit crabs... so i questioned my choices thinking that (surely) products made for hermits are better. ::sigh:: i was wrong

i'm headining down to the pet store this morning to exchange them for a better brand... so i'll make sure to grab some calcium as well ... the eggshell suggestions is great!! i can't eat eggs (ironically) but i do get some for my dogs every once in a whil... i'll make sure to save the egg shells for an alternative calcium treat. i'll probably get a piece of cuttle bone at the pet store, and have that as a staple.

i work at a health food store... so i can get all sorts of great organic "supplements" and treats for them.

thanks again guys!!!!

[CrabbyJo]

Brujja,
you lucky devil! A health food store! Tons of organics available, and I bet there's lots of interesting bulk items you can buy in tiny bits to try on them!

Emma has some great advice there, and I am glad you are getting a cuttle bone to keep in the tank. I crush some of mine to sprinkle on food, as well as leaving a couple of larger pieces around on the dry substrate, because I don't fully trust the calcium in eggshells that come from stressed, caged, corn fed chicken, that are genetically altered to lay more eggs.
Actually I get my eggs from local farmers here, so my crabs get those shells now.

I do feel strongly about seaweed, as I know it is found in their natural habitat, and it is so rich in nutrients I don't feel right not feeding it often. I purchase spirulina and kelp granules in the health food section of the store, in bulk, and order dried mixes online that contain plenty of things I can't find locally without spending $$$$ for the variety.

I will leave dry food in for two or three days, and when I'm on vacation, I leave it 4-5 days.
Fresh foods are taken out within 24 hours. I feel it's important to have food in their for them at all times so they can eat when they are hungry, not just at feeding time. What if they are sleeping during the time I have the food in?
Since they are generally more active at night, I like to have the food in overnight at least.

Don't know if you've seen this yet, but it was such a help for me:
http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... =epicurean

[brujja]

Emma has some great advice there, and I am glad you are getting a cuttle bone to keep in the tank. I crush some of mine to sprinkle on food, as well as leaving a couple of larger pieces around on the dry substrate, because I don't fully trust the calcium in eggshells that come from stressed, caged, corn fed chicken, that are genetically altered to lay more eggs.
Actually I get my eggs from local farmers here, so my crabs get those shells now.

That's awesome... before I found out I couldn't eat eggs I use to get them from one of our local farms. There's nothing like fresh chicken eggs, from free roaming happy chickens... the difference in color alone is astonishing (crazy bright yellow yolk).... but the flavor!!! WOW ... Yes... I couldn't agree with you more.

I got the cuttle bone yesterday.... as well as some other stuff (i.e. shrimp, mealworm, cricket mix, moon bulb, etc.). I thought the cuttle bone would be easier to crush and pulverize, but I think a pestle and mortal would come in handy... so, I pretty much did the same as you... pulverized some of it until I got tired of trying, and left some larger pieces for them to take if they like.

I do feel strongly about seaweed, as I know it is found in their natural habitat, and it is so rich in nutrients I don't feel right not feeding it often. I purchase spirulina and kelp granules in the health food section of the store, in bulk, and order dried mixes online that contain plenty of things I can't find locally without spending $$$$ for the variety.

Indeed! and luckily I already have some of that stuff in my cupboards and fridge. Seeweed is also good for people!! haha I admit I don't eat seaweed very often, but now I'll have a bigger incentive to eat it as well. Miso soup anyone?

I will leave dry food in for two or three days, and when I'm on vacation, I leave it 4-5 days.
Fresh foods are taken out within 24 hours. I feel it's important to have food in their for them at all times so they can eat when they are hungry, not just at feeding time. What if they are sleeping during the time I have the food in?
Since they are generally more active at night, I like to have the food in overnight at least.

Don't know if you've seen this yet, but it was such a help for me:
http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... =epicurean

Awesome! Thanks so much for the detailed reply CrabbyJo. You know, I've kept various kinds of animals ever since I was a kid... turtles, iguanas, snakes, mice, rats, dogs, fish... and surely I'm missing a few species... my point is that no animal has the same eating/living/sleeping habits or needs. And having this kind of feedback really helps to raise the chances my little guys will live a long life.

Thanks for the food list too!! We have most of those things available at our store. I particularly look forward to trying these out:

rose hips and petals
chamomile
clover
calendula

I'm assuming the rose petals need to be fresh, not dried... ??
and ... I'm surprised they like clover... who knew

[ladybug15057]

Here is a link to an archived post about food:

http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... ab+meat%3F

and flowers
http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... le+Flowers

http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... Zeaxanthin

http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... t+crabs%3F

With dried foods, hermies should also be offered fresh foods for the oils and juices they contain.

[Niko]

I've test many frequencies but, on my opinion, the best is every two days, with a little more that the critters can eat in 48 hours. I don't give large quantites of food each time, peoples do this thinking that they will be ok with that for few days, but with heat et humidity, food rapidly rots, teasing little fles, acarians, maggots and many other pest. I think that many of these problems are du to rotten food, dirty food dish, dirty water dish with piece of food swimming in it. it's better to crunch every foods in small pieces or powder in possible, it prevents to catch piece of food and hide it in a corner in the tank to eat it peacefully. But sometimes some food stays and rots if don't find rapidly.

So for me a good (not the best) way and freqencies to feed LHC is every two days with a little exceedent of food and food as cruch or cut as possible. With changing foof every two days, food stays fresh, and it's better for them, and flies, mite don't have the time to lay eggs and colonize the tank..

[CrabbyJo]

Those are all very good points, Niko. Especially the small bits so the crabs don't drag it off to rot.

When I do put in chunks (such as vegetable or fruit pieces), I only put in two or three, so that I know if one has been dragged off, and I can go looking for it.