Who Needs Calcium?
Author: Preston Blackmore
The most common pets around the world are cats, dogs, birds and even fish as well. However, the trend is changing drastically and people are now opting to have a unique and exotic pet to provide entertainment and companionship to them. Hermit crabs have become popular these days as an attractive and appealing pet which is reasonably easy to care for and feed as well. Compared to a cat or a large dog, hermit crabs don’t eat that much, but it is essential to be aware of what do hermit crabs eat in order to feed your hermit crabs correctly.
Before purchasing
hermit crab, it is necessary for the owner to consume time in learning the appropriate feeding techniques as it will create longer and much better experience with their hermit crabs. What do hermit crabs eat is necessary to know so that you provide them their desired feed. Generally, they eat whatever they find in the wild which makes it easy for the owner to feed them nearly anything except it is not spicy or having preservatives in it. Avoid giving your hermit crabs junk foods or random table scraps as they are not eating diet high in sodium, salt or saturated fats.
They generally feed on small fish they catches, mollusks and small snails, insects and various sea plants. In confinement, hermit crabs will eat vegetables, fruits, bread, meat or even egg shells. Breads, raw vegetables and small fishes are great combination which will keep your hermit crab fit and growing. If people don’t recognize what do hermit crabs eat then it can backfire on them as there are possibilities of giving them wrong feed which can harm their health.
Calcium is an essential need for hermit crabs to grow suitably. They need calcium to support their exoskeleton health which is particularly true during the time of molting. There are various ways in which the owner can provide sufficient amount of calcium to their pet hermit crabs which are cuttlebone, crushed oyster eggs, coral sand and crushed egg shells.
Cuttlebones are easily available on pet stores in the bird section which can be given by adding to food, shredded or whole as well. Crushed oyster eggs are also found in the bird section and are exceptional source of calcium. The coral sand can be utilized as tank substrate or even as a supplement. Crushed egg shells can be given in the form of dry or even boiled to hermit crabs. They are simple source of calcium. Calcium vitamin supplements, which are readily available for the reptiles, can be added in food of hermit crabs.
Calcium is an important need of hermit crabs. What do hermit crabs eat should be kept in mind as well as make sure you are providing them food having good quantity of calcium in it so that it helps them grow stronger and build their exoskeleton vigor. Wheat and rye cereals, beans, chickpeas, liver, meat, fish, brazil nuts, cashews, peanuts, pecans, raisins, peaches, sunflower and poppy seeds are some other sources of having good amount of calcium in it.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/who-needs-calcium-1851356.html
About the Author
Preston Blackmore is a hermit crab enthusiast. For more answers to questions like - what do hermit crabs eat?, visit www.hermitcrabclub.com.