Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs share symbiotic relationship with sea anemones. These invertebrates are covered with stinging cells which explode at the slightest touch. But hermit crabs regularly carry sea anemones around with them, stuck to their shells. In fact, they will often pick up sea anemones and 'plant' them on their backs, and when they move to another shell, will take their resident sea anemone with them!

This co-operation works well for both partners; the sea anemone eats food particles left by the crab, and the crab is protected from its enemies, notably octopuses, by the stinging cells of the sea anemone.

What_does_a_hermit_crab_eatdiet for a land hermit crab is basically what you feed yourself (with the exclusion of highly-processed foods and sugary snacks, of course). Land hermit crabs are omnivorous and therefore eat just about anything. You can feed them meat, fish, vegetables and fruit (yes even citrus fruit!). Crabs also like tannin-rich foods, such as oak leaves and tree bark. Before giving your crabs these things as food, make sure they are thoroughly cleaned by washing in water (no soap) and allowed to dry -- crabs like their leaves crunchy. Hermit crabs love try different foods. In fact a study found that they prefer to have a different food each time they eat. Of course, this isn't always possible, but you should offer your crab a variety of foods. Some other foods your crab should enjoy are: • Fruit, especially tropical fruits such as the crabs would find in their native habitat: mangoes, coconuts and papayas. Just be careful they don't get ahold of any fruit "pits." • Vegetables of all kinds • Meat. Make sure it is well-cooked and that there is no sauce or butter on the meat that could cause them problems. In particular, hermit crabs like to pick meat off of bones. They also enjoy steamed shrimp tails and any sort of dead crustacean. Yes, they are cannibals, it is a studied and proven fact. It is recommended that meat be put into the crabitat at night and removed in the morning to discourage flies and other, unwanted scavengers from visiting the crabitat. • Nuts, applesauce, raisins, trail mix, peanut butter, honey, cooked egg, cereal, crackers, washed grass, and popcorn are some of the miscellaneous favorites people have reported their crabs enjoying. • Dairy foods may be given to the crabs in small amounts and not too often.

Some people notice their crabs are partial to 'junk food' such a corn chips, sugary cereals and pretzels. Though they may like these foods, they should of course be limited to occasional treats.

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