Feeding Hermit Crabs

MrsHaggis · 01/21/2009, 06:03 AM

Hey Guys,

I got a new hermit crab after the last one died (of starvation I think!!). I waited until the algae in my tank had built up a bit to avoid another one starving to death.

But since I put him in the tank he always stays in the same place on a rock and doesn't move. I feed a crab pellet every 2 days but he does not eat those - beginning to think I'm just creating a nitrate problem by continuing to feed him those. So I wondered what else I could put in the tank for him to eat.

I've heard Nori sheets can be good - but do I break it up and put in little pieces or put in a hole sheet....?

Is there anything else he might like to eat?
Should he be move active than this? (he doesn't move at night either - I've done some babysitting to know this!!)

gregod · 01/21/2009, 06:32 AM

how long did you have your first crab? and How long did you acclimate your crabs and how did you go about doing it?

MrsHaggis · 01/21/2009, 06:34 AM

The first crab last about 7/8 days.
I acclimated this crab with a drip from the DT for about 8/9 hours.

The first one was not acclimated like this -just floated for a while in the DT and then added some DT water. Perhaps that was what he did not like??

gregod · 01/21/2009, 06:41 AM

I think they can be sensitive to the acclimation process so that may have done your first one in. my crabs eat when I feed the tank, they go crazy at feeding time. What are you feeding your clown? try tossing some mysis in there or maybe a small chunk of table shrimp. I've had hermits fight with my nems over chunks of shrimp.

MrsHaggis · 01/21/2009, 06:59 AM

I feed the clown frozen shrimp food.
So I could just chop up some shrimp (fresh) and drop that in the tank and see what happens?

Why isn't he moving - lack of food???

gregod · 01/21/2009, 07:10 AM

I use frozen shrimp, cut a chunk of and thaw it in a dish of ro water and target fee the nems and anything that floats away get attacked by the crabs within minutes. As far as him not moving, check to see if he is still alive, he should retract tightly when you touch the shell. Maybe try putting a small piece of shrimp in the corner of the tank and put the crab right next to it to see what he does.

tims28gnano · 01/21/2009, 07:35 AM

fiona, i acclimated my entire CUC the same way you did your first guy. i have one blue and 3 little hermits, they are ALL over the tank!!! come to think of it, i dont think i have EVER seen my hermits NOT moving and working in the tank!

i feed my clowns 1/3 of a frozen mysis shrimp cube daily.

sorry that you are having another problem!

MrsHaggis · 01/21/2009, 08:05 AM

My last crab (the one that died) moved much more than this one - until he passed on that is.....

This little guy hasn't moved an inch since we put him in tank. He does however retract when we touch the shell.....

I'm at a loss - maybe I'll try feeding him shrimp and see if he likes that!!

MrsHaggis · 01/21/2009, 08:06 AM

I acclimated my turbo snails the same way and boy do I know why they are called turbo snails - they have eaten their way through all types of algae in just a few days. I'm actually worried they will run out of stuff to eat soon.

Maybe crabs are just not for me!!

Whys · 01/21/2009, 12:04 PM

Hermits will typically eat just about anything. They'll stay in one place for a day or two if they are molting.

01/21/2009, 06:03 AM	#1
MrsHaggis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St Louis, France Posts: 675	Feeding Hermit Crabs Hey Guys, I got a new hermit crab after the last one died (of starvation I think!!). I waited until the algae in my tank had built up a bit to avoid another one starving to death. But since I put him in the tank he always stays in the same place on a rock and doesn't move. I feed a crab pellet every 2 days but he does not eat those - beginning to think I'm just creating a nitrate problem by continuing to feed him those. So I wondered what else I could put in the tank for him to eat. I've heard Nori sheets can be good - but do I break it up and put in little pieces or put in a hole sheet....? Is there anything else he might like to eat? Should he be move active than this? (he doesn't move at night either - I've done some babysitting to know this!!) __________________ Nothing scarier than a clown!! ----------------------------- 1 ClownFish 1 SixLine Wrasse 1 Foxface Rabbitfish Mushrooms Long Polyp Leather Green Anchor Coral Zoanthids Trumpet Coral Goniopora Current Tank Info: 360 litre (95 US Gallons), Tunze DOC Skimmer 9010, Lights: Metal Halide 250 Watt and 2x24 Watt Moon Lights, Tunze MultiController 7095

01/21/2009, 06:34 AM	#3
MrsHaggis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St Louis, France Posts: 675	The first crab last about 7/8 days. I acclimated this crab with a drip from the DT for about 8/9 hours. The first one was not acclimated like this -just floated for a while in the DT and then added some DT water. Perhaps that was what he did not like?? __________________ Nothing scarier than a clown!! ----------------------------- 1 ClownFish 1 SixLine Wrasse 1 Foxface Rabbitfish Mushrooms Long Polyp Leather Green Anchor Coral Zoanthids Trumpet Coral Goniopora Current Tank Info: 360 litre (95 US Gallons), Tunze DOC Skimmer 9010, Lights: Metal Halide 250 Watt and 2x24 Watt Moon Lights, Tunze MultiController 7095

01/21/2009, 06:59 AM	#5
MrsHaggis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St Louis, France Posts: 675	I feed the clown frozen shrimp food. So I could just chop up some shrimp (fresh) and drop that in the tank and see what happens? Why isn't he moving - lack of food??? __________________ Nothing scarier than a clown!! ----------------------------- 1 ClownFish 1 SixLine Wrasse 1 Foxface Rabbitfish Mushrooms Long Polyp Leather Green Anchor Coral Zoanthids Trumpet Coral Goniopora Current Tank Info: 360 litre (95 US Gallons), Tunze DOC Skimmer 9010, Lights: Metal Halide 250 Watt and 2x24 Watt Moon Lights, Tunze MultiController 7095

01/21/2009, 08:05 AM	#8
MrsHaggis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St Louis, France Posts: 675	My last crab (the one that died) moved much more than this one - until he passed on that is..... This little guy hasn't moved an inch since we put him in tank. He does however retract when we touch the shell..... I'm at a loss - maybe I'll try feeding him shrimp and see if he likes that!! __________________ Nothing scarier than a clown!! ----------------------------- 1 ClownFish 1 SixLine Wrasse 1 Foxface Rabbitfish Mushrooms Long Polyp Leather Green Anchor Coral Zoanthids Trumpet Coral Goniopora Current Tank Info: 360 litre (95 US Gallons), Tunze DOC Skimmer 9010, Lights: Metal Halide 250 Watt and 2x24 Watt Moon Lights, Tunze MultiController 7095

01/21/2009, 08:06 AM	#9
MrsHaggis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St Louis, France Posts: 675	I acclimated my turbo snails the same way and boy do I know why they are called turbo snails - they have eaten their way through all types of algae in just a few days. I'm actually worried they will run out of stuff to eat soon. Maybe crabs are just not for me!! __________________ Nothing scarier than a clown!! ----------------------------- 1 ClownFish 1 SixLine Wrasse 1 Foxface Rabbitfish Mushrooms Long Polyp Leather Green Anchor Coral Zoanthids Trumpet Coral Goniopora Current Tank Info: 360 litre (95 US Gallons), Tunze DOC Skimmer 9010, Lights: Metal Halide 250 Watt and 2x24 Watt Moon Lights, Tunze MultiController 7095

01/21/2009, 06:32 AM	#2
gregod Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 566	how long did you have your first crab? and How long did you acclimate your crabs and how did you go about doing it?

01/21/2009, 06:41 AM	#4
gregod Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 566	I think they can be sensitive to the acclimation process so that may have done your first one in. my crabs eat when I feed the tank, they go crazy at feeding time. What are you feeding your clown? try tossing some mysis in there or maybe a small chunk of table shrimp. I've had hermits fight with my nems over chunks of shrimp.

01/21/2009, 07:10 AM	#6
gregod Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 566	I use frozen shrimp, cut a chunk of and thaw it in a dish of ro water and target fee the nems and anything that floats away get attacked by the crabs within minutes. As far as him not moving, check to see if he is still alive, he should retract tightly when you touch the shell. Maybe try putting a small piece of shrimp in the corner of the tank and put the crab right next to it to see what he does.

01/21/2009, 07:35 AM	#7
tims28gnano Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Jones Beach Posts: 343	fiona, i acclimated my entire CUC the same way you did your first guy. i have one blue and 3 little hermits, they are ALL over the tank!!! come to think of it, i dont think i have EVER seen my hermits NOT moving and working in the tank! i feed my clowns 1/3 of a frozen mysis shrimp cube daily. sorry that you are having another problem!

01/21/2009, 12:04 PM	#10
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Hermits will typically eat just about anything. They'll stay in one place for a day or two if they are molting.