Land Hermit Crabs: Dietary Needs
Balanced Diet and Food Preferences
"Land hermit crabs are scavengers that use olification to locate their foods. Although they are scavengers, land hermit crabs do not select their foods randomly." (Thacker, 1995)
Thacker proved in his "Food choices of land hermit crabs (Coenobita compressus H. Milne Edwards) depend on past experience" article that the appetitite of the pacific land hermit crab (Coenobita compressus H. Milne Edwards) is directly linked with the smells associated with the foods offered, and the abundance and frequency that they were offered.
When you feed land hermit crabs the same foods, or foods with similar smells, on a regular basis they will not eat as much of the food as they would if the foods were rotated. Hermit Crabs are not so unlike our human tastes. If we were to eat the same foods day after day we would soon tire of them, and prefer to eat foods which are not always available. It is important to offered a balanced diet with a variety of fresh, dry and commercial foods which stimulate the appetite and meet their dietary needs.
The Coenobita compressus land hermit crabs in Thacker's study displayed "negative preference indication when feeding on natural foods, preferring foods that they have not experienced recently... when the abundances of foods in their habitat were altered, crabs preferred the odors of foods that were less abundant." (Ibid)
Another important finding from the study was that hermit crabs are able to recall foods recently eaten, and will avoid them. Thacker theorises that this may be a survival response. "Crabs more frequently chose foods that they had not experienced during the previous 24 hours. As a consequence of this behavior, land hermit crabs consume a broader diet which may result in crabs obtaining a more nutritionally balanced diet or limiting their exposure to toxins." (Ibid)
Spirulina is used extensively with crustacea care, (prawns,
shrimps, lobsters) but it has been in use for human health
since times of Ancient Egypt. Unfortunately it has been brushed
aside for a long time, with most people not realising the
wonderful benefits of this 'superfood', with a re-emergence
of people dedicated to sharing these benefits with all.
- It provides more calcium than the same amount of milk
- Provides more protein than meat
- Highest concentration of beta carotene which helps with
colour and resistance
- safe to use as a probiotic or preventative and will build
up immunisation
- easy to access; just ask in pet stores, aquariums and
health stores
BRANDS:
HIKARI
Hikari Algae Wafers 20g
TETRA
Nutrafin Max Spirulina Flakes 25g
Nutrafin Max Spirulina Flakes 60g
Nutrafin Max Spirulina Tablets (200)
Tetra Spirulina Flakes 20g
Tetra Spirulina Flakes 52g
VITAKRAFT
Vitakraft Plant Chips (Spirulina) 40g
Vitakraft Plant Chips (Spirulina) 140g
WARDLEYS:
Wardleys Spirulina Plus Flakes 25g
Wardleys Spirulina Plus Flakes 55g
Wardleys Spirulina Plus Flakes 128g
Best if in the form of Spirulina and Kelp flake/powder/tablet
as your hermit crab will love the smell of kelp, and you
will also have the benefits of deep sea kelp, one of which
is the high iodine content. Iodine kills bacteria and disease-causing
organisms
Vitamin C
Assists in tissue building, fast action healing in wounds,
strengthening of blood veins. Helps to strengthen shells and
helps to strengthen shells, thus improving the chance of a succesful
mout. Some sources state that stabilized Vitamin C helps to
assist the immunity of crustacea and with the thicker, healthier
exoskeleton it may prevent 'black spot' or 'shell disease' since
there is not a portal of entry.
Wood Items
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| Hollow drift wood make a nice hide-out by - Photo by tracy58_sp |
References:
Thacker, R.W. 1996. Food choices of land hermit crabs (Coenobita compressus H. Milne Edwards) depend on past experience. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 199: 179-191.
Thacker, R.W. 1998. Avoidance of recently eaten foods by land hermit crabs, Coenobita compressus. Animal Behaviour 55: 485-496.
Small, M.P. and R.W. Thacker. 1994. Land hermit crabs use odors of dead conspecifics to locate shell sources. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 182: 169-182.
