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Land Hermit Crab Food
Land hermit crab food can be found in nature in the form of leaf litter and grasses; in the refrigerator, as organic carrots and boiled chicken; or at the pet store, as purchases of dried brine shrimp and frozen escargot. They are omnivores, which means that they are not picky eaters. So long as their food is rich in calcium and carotene, and is free of pesticides and preservatives, they will thrive.
Carotene is an essential component of hermit crab food. Without it, they cannot maintain their color. This will become painfully apparent after molting, when a once beautiful land hermit crab emerges a drab shadow of his former self.
Calcium is another vital ingredient of hermit crab food, allowing the exoskeleton to form and remain strong.
There are specially mixed varieties of food available at pet stores, though for some reason, dangerous pesticides and preservatives are sometimes added to the formula. It is therefore essential to read the label to ensure that the food does not contain either ethoxyquin, which is a cancer causing preservative that is all too common in pet food of all kinds; or copper sulfate, which is a pesticide found in fish food.
Food in the wild is varied, depending on what has fallen from the trees or washed up on the shore. Therefore, if you offer your pet a wide assortment of fresh and slightly decomposing food, you will make his day.
To vary the monotony of dried, commercial food preparations, try adding some of the following items:
• Freeze dried foods, such as meal worms and escargots.
• Frozen foods, such as brine shrimp, krill, blood worms and plankton.
• Bird seed.
• Cuttlefish bones, which may need to be crushed for easy consumption.
• A few live crickets make an interesting addition to their diet. They eat the same food that the land
hermit crabs do, and provide a tasty treat when they are caught.Their diet would not be complete without some fresh treats, which should always be free of pesticides to ensure optimum health. Some good choices are:
• Fresh coconut and other tropical fruits, such as papayas and bananas.
• Popped popcorn (hold the butter and salt, please.)
• Shredded greens.
• Shredded carrots.Hermit crab food should be consumed in small quantities and very slowly, since they are small creatures with tiny mouths. The exception to this rule may be pets that have been recently acquired from a pet shop. If nutrition was not adequate, your new pet may make up for deficiencies by consuming a much larger quantity of food that he normally would.
Feeding the proper diet will ensure that your new pet remains strong and does not contract disease. They make wonderful pets once basic care has been mastered. Rather than having a pet that lasts for only a few months, you might have one that lives for decades if you start out with the appropriate land hermit crab food.
Nick A. is hermit crab enthusiast. For more information and advice on hermit crab food please visit http://www.petscc.info
Aother – Nick A.