Carrots are loaded with Vitamin A, C and K. Carrots contain beta-carotene which is also known as pro-vitamin A.
Hermit crabs can eat carrots raw or cooked.
They can be fed as is, cut into small pieces, or shredded.
Feed just the carrot peel and give them a fresh one every other day to 2 days.
Remove all uneaten food after that period.
Carrots are just right for hermit crabs that love crunchy food.
Green Beans
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Green beans are another of the vegetables that hermit crabs enjoy munching on.
Green beans will also give your little crustacean some extra protein, Vitamin C, riboflavin, potassium, and manganese.
You can feed them green beans either raw or cooked. Make sure that when you feed green beans to your hermit crabs, they are smooth and not tough.
This will potentially cause indigestion and an upset stomach for your crustaceans.
Feeding green beans will give them a delicious crunchy snack or meal and can be a healthy addition (that they may enjoy even more than their regular food) to their diet.
Green beans can be bought from your local grocery store or greengrocer.
Green Peas
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Like their cousin’s green beans, hermit crabs love to eat green peas too!
Green peas are a particularly good source of protein and carbohydrates for them. Also, green peas have Vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium in abundance.
You can feed your hermit crabs washed and raw green peas.
Make sure that when you feed your crabs green peas, they are smooth and not tough. This will potentially cause indigestion for your little buddies.
Cucumbers are a popular vegetable to feed hermit crabs because they provide hydration, fibre, and minerals.
Hydrating your hermit crabs is important for them as they do not drink from standing water or eat sand as sea crabs do.
Cucumbers contain around 95 per cent water; this hydrates your crabs and provides much-needed minerals like magnesium, potassium, and sodium to your crabs.
You can give cucumbers raw; you could also cook the cucumber if you prefer.
Make sure that when preparing the cucumber you discard the seeds and peel them before serving them to your crabs.
Spinach leaves are a staple among hermit crab vegetables and can consist of around 50% of their diet. Spinach is high in calcium, iron, potassium, and vitamins A and C.
Eating raw spinach can help with shedding problems as it helps to loosen the outer layer of skin for moulting crabs.
Crabs tend to have more trouble moulting when they are on meat-heavy diets.
Spinach can contribute to regular moulting problems for hermit crabs.
Spinach leaves are best fed either dehydrated or baked in the oven until crispy.
Crabs also enjoy spinach leaves when they are dipped into melted butter before being eaten, which is not considered to be a healthy thing for crabs to eat, but some crabs may enjoy it.
Zucchini
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Zucchini is great for hermit crabs as they can eat the skin and everything.
They like it raw, but you can also cook it to make zucchini noodles which hermit crabs seem to enjoy very much.
Zucchini is generally a healthy vegetable and offers many health benefits to humans; therefore it is likely to benefit hermit crabs as well.
Zucchini can be fed very often, but make sure you remove any uneaten portions after your crabs eat their fill.
You shouldn’t leave leftovers in the tank all day because they can spoil and make your crabs sick.
Bell Pepper
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Hermit crabs are omnivores, eating both plants and meat.
They require vegetables but also need meat products in smaller quantities.
Bell peppers come in all colours including green, red, orange, yellow, and purple.
All the colours provide different nutrients.
They are very nutritious and crabs will love them, including the seeds inside.
Bell peppers also contain vitamin C which is important for their exoskeletons.
You can cut up bell peppers into smaller pieces or shred them if you’d like to.
Hermit crabs would love to munch on them raw so you don’t need to cook them.
Romaine Lettuce
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Romaine lettuce is a great source of vitamins A and K, two known nutrients for hermit crabs. It helps provide calcium, iron, potassium, and fibre.
Romaine lettuce can be used as an alternative to their normal food in case they do not eat enough of it or in case they run out of their original food.
You should soak the lettuce in a saltwater mixture for around an hour.
Note that there can be some slight pesticide residue so it is best to wash it before giving the lettuce as food to your crabs.
What Kind Of Vegetables Can Hermit Crabs Eat?
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Hermit crabs can eat both fruit and vegetables.
It is important to know what kind of vegetables you should feed your hermits as some may be very dangerous for them or make their shells soft if eaten too often.
The kind of vegetable hermit crabs prefer to eat is that which is high in calcium and other minerals, fibre, and essential vitamins.
The other main kind is what is commonly known as the “starches”.
These are what will give hermit crabs energy and help them grow in their shells.
But they can also eat things that contain protein like meat or fish just to name a few.
Some fruits that you might be surprised at include strawberries, oranges, lemons, and bananas which all make great treats for hermit crabs.
Keep in mind that what fruits and vegetables you choose to feed your pets should always be ripe, as they will have a higher nutritional value when this is the case.
Benefits Of Feeding Vegetables To Hermit Crabs
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Vegetables are an essential part of a healthy diet for humans and hermit crabs.
There’s been some debate about what vegetables can be fed to hermit crabs.
Vets recommend that carrots should not be given due to the high sugar content which may cause major problems such as organ failure.
However, most other fruit and veg are safe to give hermit crabs.
You can feed vegetables either raw or cooked, whichever you prefer and what your crab is used to.
If giving veggies as a treat during playtime it’s best not to cook them first so that they retain their nutritional value just in case the whole thing gets eaten quickly!
Benefits of eating vegetables for hermit crabs:
Hermit crabs need a high amount of fibre in their diet to stay healthy.
Vegetables can help provide this as well as other vital nutrients such as calcium, potassium, and Vitamin C which are all essential for hermits’ health
Providing vegetables is one way you can encourage natural behaviour from your crab.
Offering vegetables can help your hermit crabs to have fun while exercising their instincts.
Whether they are digging, pulling, or climbing it’s what they would do in the wild and provides enrichment
Vegetables add variety to your crab’s diet helping them get all of the nutrients that they need from a wide range of foods
It can be difficult to meet the nutritional needs of hermit crabs through what they eat in their tank alone.
Providing vegetables is one way you can ensure that your crab gets what it needs from a wider variety of food rather than just what it finds around its home
Are There Any Harmful Effects Of Eating Vegetables For Hermits?
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The answer to this question is ‘NO’.
Feeding vegetables in moderation will not harm hermit crabs.
Just be sure what you are offering your hermits isn’t high in salt or sugar content when choosing what type of veggies to feed them.
Vegetables also offer dietary fibre which helps with digestion and the movement of waste through our bodies.
Fibre is what helps to prevent digestive issues and constipation because it keeps the bowels soft.
By feeding what vegetables can hermit crabs eat, you are providing your crab with a variety of nutrients that will help to keep them healthy.
When it comes to what kind of vegetables can hermit crabs eat there is no limit when offering these nutritious foods in moderation.
The more veggies and types of vegetation, the better!
Vegetables You Must Avoid Feeding Your Hermits
There are a few vegetables that you must avoid feeding your hermits. If they eat any of these, it can cause them to have complications or even die.
Onions
You must avoid onions because they can cause respiratory problems or death. Onions are part of the allium family and they contain sulfur that is toxic for hermit crabs.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are part of the nightshade family and they contain alkaloids that can be fatal to hermit crabs.
Avoid garlic because it contains a toxin called N-propyl disulfide, which will kill your hermits quickly if eaten in quantities.
Chives
Chives contain the same toxins as garlic and onions so you must avoid feeding this to your crabs too!
Potatoes
Potatoes are also in the nightshade family and are toxic to them. If you notice your hermit crab has eaten some, it’s important to get them medical attention immediately.
Avocados
Avocado is very bad for hermit crabs because it contains persin, which will cause them to have diarrhoea and eventually die.
Dried Beans
Beans contain hemagglutinins that can cause intestinal problems in your hermits so you must stay away from feeding them beans.
Cabbage
Cabbage is also high in goitrogens, which will cause your hermit crabs to get what’s called ‘goitre’. This means their thyroid gland becomes enlarged and it can lead to hypothyroidism.
Hermit crabs need a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates, and fat.
Vegetables are an excellent source of fibre which is what hermits require to maintain their digestion process. I
How often you should feed your pet hermit crab vegetables depends on several factors.
Including what kind of veggies they can eat, what kind they have at home, etc.
You can feed vegetables to your pet hermit crabs daily or every other day.
However, if you notice that they are not eating all of what you give them within a couple of hours.
After offering the food, remove it from their enclosure and do not offer it again until the next feeding time.
How Long Can Hermit Crabs Go Without Food?
A hermit crab can survive up to 30 days without any source of nutrition whatsoever!
Of course, if it is not fed during this period the health and well-being of your pet may suffer greatly.
For example, during the whole 30 days, your hermit crab might not be able to moult successfully, which results in a much weaker and fragile creature.
How Long Can Hermit Crabs Go Without Water?
Hermit crabs are not amphibians, they cannot survive on land for too long.
They need to keep their gills moist to breathe and if you allow them to dry out, their chances of survival drop significantly.
If a crab gets stuck outside during the daytime when it’s hot and sunny, it won’t have much time to find moisture before it’s too late.
The inside of a terrarium should be kept moist and humid for crabs’ survival.
They can go without food longer than water because their stomachs are airtight and will not dry out like the gills do when exposed to heat or light for extended periods.
Water dishes should be refilled daily (or even twice a day if it’s really hot and humid or there is no air movement) to keep the humidity level up in their living space.
A moisture meter can also help you monitor how moist your tank is throughout the day and what needs to be done to maintain optimal humidity levels for your crabs.
Recommended article:What fruits can hermit crabs eat? 9+ Best fruits!
Things To Know Before Feeding Vegetables To Hermit Crabs
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The things you need to know before feeding vegetables to hermit crabs:
Hermit crabs have a long digestive tract for their body size which means they need to eat more slowly.
Vegetables are often harder and more fibrous than what the crab would normally find.
So make sure you offer smaller portions several times throughout the day rather than one big meal.
If giving veggies during playtime you can chop them up into smaller pieces to make it easier for your crab.
Vegetables are generally safe but some have been known to cause problems with hermit crabs.
Carrots, onions, and garlic should not be given due to their high sugar content which may cause organ failure.
Other things that should only be fed very occasionally include potatoes, avocados, and fruit.
If a vegetable is not listed as safe to give your crab then it’s best to avoid giving them that particular type of veg until you have talked to the vet about what is okay for your hermit crabs’ specific needs.
