How to Feed Hermit Crabs (Schedule, Amount & Tips)
Feed your hermit crabs once a day in the evening, about a pea-sized amount per crab. Rotate protein, fruit, vegetables, and calcium nightly for variety. That is the short answer, but many owners get the amount or timing slightly wrong without realizing it. Here is exactly when, how much, and what to avoid.
When to Feed Hermit Crabs:
Hermit crabs are nocturnal, so they eat at night. The best time to put food in the tank is around sunset or early evening, since most crabs start looking for food between 8 PM and 10 PM.
Place fresh food in the dish each evening and remove any leftovers the next morning. This keeps the tank clean and prevents mold. If the food is completely gone by morning, offer a little more the next night. If it is barely touched, offer less or try something different.
How Much to Feed Hermit Crabs:
Hermit crabs eat very small amounts. Each one only eats about a pea-sized amount per sitting.
They take small bites and do most of their eating while you sleep. Do not be surprised if the food looks untouched in the morning. Look closely and you will often see tiny bite marks. Overfeeding is worse than underfeeding, since leftover food can rot, grow mold, and attract mites.
Balanced Hermit Crab Meal:
Think of each night’s meal as a tiny plate with different food groups:
| Food Group | % of Meal | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 50% | Dried shrimp, boiled egg, bloodworms, chicken, crickets |
| Fruits & veggies | 20% | Mango, coconut, sweet potato, spinach, carrots |
| Calcium | 15% | Cuttlebone, crushed eggshells, oyster shell |
| Healthy fats | 10% | Coconut oil, walnuts, sunflower seeds, chia seeds |
| Extras | 5% | Leaf litter, honey, seaweed, oak bark, moss |
You do not need exact percentages every night. Protein should be the biggest part of every meal, with fruit, vegetables, and calcium offered alongside it. Keep a cuttlebone in the tank at all times for snacking.
Weekly Hermit Crab Feeding Schedule:
Here is an easy rotation to follow, offering something different every night:
- Monday: Dried shrimp, mango slice, crushed eggshell
- Tuesday: Boiled egg, sweet potato, coconut flakes
- Wednesday: Bloodworms, spinach, walnut pieces
- Thursday: Cooked chicken (unseasoned), banana, seaweed
- Friday: Dried crickets, carrot, sunflower seeds
- Saturday: Shrimp, watermelon, chia seeds
- Sunday: Egg, kale, coconut oil dab, oak leaf
This is just a sample, so mix and match however you like. Hermit crabs tend to prefer a different food each time they eat. If they ignore something one night, try it again in a week or two.
Where to Place Hermit Crab Food:
Use a small, shallow dish made of ceramic, glass, or plastic. Never metal, since hermit crabs are sensitive to it. Place the dish on the substrate, away from the water pools, and near a spot your crabs usually hang out in.
If you have 3 or more crabs, use two small dishes in different spots. This stops one crab from guarding all the food.
Hermit Crab Feeding Mistakes to Avoid:
- Leaving old food in the tank. Remove leftovers every morning. Rotting food grows mold and attracts mites.
- Feeding only pellets. Commercial pellets often contain harmful preservatives. Use fresh food as the main diet.
- Feeding the same thing every night. Crabs get bored and may stop eating. Rotate daily.
- Using metal dishes. Metal can react with salt water and release harmful compounds.
- Forgetting calcium. Crabs need calcium constantly, especially around molting. Keep a cuttlebone in the tank.
- Washing food with tap water. Tap water contains chlorine. Use dechlorinated water or organic produce.
- Panicking when they stop eating. Hermit crabs sometimes go days without eating, especially before a molt.
What About Hermit Crabs During Molting?
A molting crab buries itself underground and may not eat for 2 weeks to 3 months depending on its size. This is completely normal. Do not dig it up or try to feed it.
The crab eats its own shed exoskeleton during this time. This gives it the calcium and nutrients it needs to harden its new skin. Keep offering food for your other crabs as normal, and the molting crab will come back up when ready.
Conclusion:
Feed your hermit crabs once a day in the evening, about a pea-sized amount per crab, with protein as the main dish plus fruit, vegetables, and calcium on the side.
Rotate your foods daily, remove leftovers every morning, and keep a cuttlebone in the tank at all times. Once you get into the routine, feeding takes less than a minute a day.
(FAQs):
A: Most adult hermit crabs eat once a day at night. They take small bites and eat slowly. Check for tiny bite marks in the morning instead of judging by how full the dish looks.
A: Crabs eat only small portions, so the real risk is leftover food rotting in the tank. Rotting food grows mold and attracts mites. Offer small amounts and remove leftovers every morning.
A: Not right away. Crabs can go 2 to 3 weeks without eating, especially around a molt. If it has gone longer and is not molting, check your temperature and humidity.
