Are Hermit Crabs edible

Answer 1

It is important to note that, as a scavenger that is harvested out of the wild, hermit crabs can very easily be toxic, and certainly unpleasant to eat, much like seagulls or pigeons. Anything a scavenger eats, you eat too, if you eat the scavenger. And scavengers are far less picky then humans, and far more hardy against disease and toxins. Scavengers also often have parasites that, while relativly harmless to them, could be dangerous to other species.

Hermit crabs have almost no "meat." If you have ever seen a lobster being eaten, you can see how little can be consumed. And the Chitin that makes up the hard outer skin of the crab is, by design, immensely tough and therefor inedible.

So, in theory, while a Hermit Crab could be consumed, it would be a disgusting and potentially dangerous meal that provides no nutritional value. This is not including the fact that the process of preparing the crab to be eaten would be immensely cruel to the crab.

Answer 2

You could eat hermit crabs but would you want to plus if you eat one you will get no nutrition from it but you wont die?? I mean if you had one for a pet then you just ate it that would be pretty gross, if you think about it
Yes, a hermit crab could be eaten. However, most people have hermit crabs for pets.

Answer 3

Based on an episode of Bizarre Foods, during which he goes to Thailand and eats them, I'd say the answer is yes. He compares them to soft shell crab and shrimp.
I've been doing some research as to the safe consumption of Mole Crabs. According to the fact sheet put out by the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association, mole crabs can accumulate toxic amounts of domoic acid, which can cause amnesiac shellfish Poisoning. They also carry parasites that have been known to kill oceanic mammals.

There is a hotline for Biotoxins at 800/553-4133 (California Coast only).

I want to catch some mole crabs outside of Bodega Bay and try them. I've called the hotline and doesn't seem to be any warnings this October. I'll boil them first to kill any parasites then mix them with cornstarch, salt, and pepper and fry them.

Answer 4

Yes they are because they have an exoskeleton/shell, hermit crabs are shellfish just like mollusks are!

Answer 5

Yes they can also eat egg shell (that is washed) and fruit (I own two^^)

Answer 6

Yes they do. Make sure you chop them up small enough for the crab to eat or use a food processor.

Answer 7

Yes and no. You can eat the eggs but nothing else. **1 explains it a bit more.

Answer 8

No, they are not.

Answer 9

Yes they are edible.