Hermit Crabs - Safe and Unsafe Foods

Hermit crabs are innate scavengers and will consume a wide variety of items; however, certain foods are not safe for them. Presented below is a list of foods that are safe and unsafe for feeding your hermit crabs.

If a specific food is not mentioned here and you are uncertain about its suitability, please consult the LHCOS recommended food database available below - written by and belonging to Crab Street Journal.

CSJ’s Ultimate Guide to Feeding Your Hermit Crabs | The Crab Street Journal

We consistently update our list as new findings are published, so please check back regularly.

SAFE FOOD LIST -

A

Acai

Acorns

Agave

Air Plants

Alfalfa

African Violet

Almonds

Amaranth

Amphipods

Anacharis

Anchovies

Apples

Apricot

Aragonite

Arame (seaweed)

Arbutus Wood & Fruit

Artichokes

Arugula

Ash

Ash Wood

Asian Mustard Greens

Asian Pear

Asparagus

Avocado

Avocado Oil

Azomite

B

Bamboo Fungus

Banana

Banana Leaves

Barley

Barley Grass

Barnacles

Barramundi

Basa

Bayberry

Beans (black, kidney, soy, faba etc.)(cooked)

Beach Grass

Bee Pollen

Beef (all parts)

Beef Suet

Beetroot

Bilberry

Birch Wood

Birch Leaf

Bison

Blackberry

Black Carrot

Blackberry Leaves

Blackstrap Molasses (organic, unsulphered)

Black Rice (cooked)

Black Soldier Fly Larvae

Bladderwrack

Blood Meal

Blood Orange

Bloodworms

Blueberry

Blue Cornmeal

Blue Elderberry

Blue Spirulina

Bok Choy

Bone Meal

Bone Marrow

Borage

Boysenberry

Brazil Nut

Brine Shrimp

Brine Shrimp Eggs

Broccoli

Broccolini

Brown Linseed

Brown Rice (cooked)

Brussel Sprouts

Buckinis

Buckwheat

Buffalo

Burning Bush

Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Pea Flower

C

Cabbage

Calcium Carbonate (food grade)

Calendula Flowers

Camellia

Camel (all parts)

Camu Camu

Cantaloupe

Canary Seed

Capsicum

Cape Myrtle

Caribou

Carnation Flowers

Carrots

Cashews

Cashew Apple

Cassava

Catappa Leaves

Catfish

Cauliflower

Celery

Centipedes

Chamomile Flowers

Cherimoya Fruit

Cherry

Chestnuts

Chia Seeds

Chicken (all parts)

Chicory

Chickpeas (cooked)

Chickweed

Chilli

Chinese Bayberry

Chokeberry

Cholla Wood

Chlorella

Cicada Shells

Clams

Clover

Cochineal

Coconut

Coconut Flour

Coconut Milk

Coconut Oil

Coconut Sugar

Cockroaches

Cod

Collards

Coneflower

Copepods

Coral

Cork Bark

Corn

Cornflower

Cotton

Couscous

Cowpeas

Crabapple

Cranberry

Crayfish

Crepe Myrtle

Crickets

Crocodile (all parts)

Crustaceans

Crustacean Exoskeletons

Crustacean Meat

Cucumber

Cupuaçu

Currants

Cuttlefish Bone

D

Daisy

Daphnia

Dandelion, all parts

Dates

Day Lily

Deer (venison, all parts)

Dogwood Bark

Dragonfruit

Duck (all parts)

Duck Fat

Duckweed

Dulse

E

Earthworms

Edamame

Eggs (all parts, cooked)

Eggplant

Elderberry Flowers

Elk

Emu (all parts)

Endive

Evening Primrose

F

Feathers (clean, non treated)

Fig

Filberts

Fireweed

Fish Oil

Fish (all species)

Flaxseed

Flaxseed Oil

Flounder

Forget Me Not Petals

Freekeh

Fringe Cup

G

Geese (all parts)

Gizzard

Gladiolus

Goat (all parts)

Goats Beard

Goji Berries

Golden Linseed

Goliath Worms

Gooseberry

Grapes

Grapefruit

Grape Vine

Green Beans

Green Laver

Green Leaf Manzanita

Greensand

Green Tripe

Guava

Guano (must be unmedicated)

H

Haddock

Halibut

Hardyhead

Hairy Manzanita

Hazel Leaves

Hazelnuts

Hemp Seed

Hemp Seed Oil

Herring

Hibiscus Flowers

Hickory

Holly Leaves

Hollyhock Flowers

Hog Plum (Caja Fruit)

Honey (organic)

Honeybush

Honeydew Melon

Honeysuckle Flowers

Hornworms

Huckleberry

I

Incaberry

Indian Almond Leaves

Insect Frass

Impatiens

Iris

Irish Moss

Isopods

J

Jackfruit

Jalapeno

Japanese Maple

Jasmine Flowers

Jicama

K

Kale

Kamut

Kangaroo (all parts)

Katydids

Kelp

Kipper

Kinnikinnick

Kiwifruit

Krill

L

Lamb (all parts)

Lamb Tallow

Lentils (cooked)

Lettuce

Lilac Flowers

Lima Beans

Linseed

Liver

Lobster Meat & Shell

Locusts

Lychee Fruit

M

Maca

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia Oil

Mackerel

Macroalgae

Madrona Wood

Magnolia Leaves

Maize

Manda

Mango

Mangosteen

Mangrove

Mantis Shrimp

Manuka Honey

Manzanita

Maple

Maple Syrup (organic)

Maqui

Marion Berry

Marshmallow Leaf

Marshmallow Root

Mealworms

Mesquite

Milk Thistle Flowers & Leaf

Milkweed

Millet (white & red)

Millet Sprays

Minnows

Mint

Mollusks

Moose

Mopani Wood

Mulberry

Mulberry Leaf

Mullein

Mushrooms (human safe only)

Mussels

Mysis Shrimp

N

Nasturtium

Nectarines

Niger (Nyjer) Seed

Nipplewort

Noni Fruit

Nopale

Nut Butters (organic, single ingredient)

Nutrional Yeast

O

Oak Leaves & Bark

Oats

Oat Bran

Oat Groats

Oat Milk (Organic)

Oat Straw

Octopus

Offal

Oil Palm Fruit

Okra

Olives

Olive Oil

Ostrich

Oranges

Oregon Iris

Oyster Meat & Shell

Oyster Shell Flour

P

Pansy Flowers

Pampas Grass

Papaya Fruit

Paprika

Parsley

Parsnip

Passionfruit

Passionflower

Pasta (no added salt, organic, cooked)

Peaches

Peanut Butter (organic, single ingredient)

Peanuts

Pears

Peas

Pecan Bark

Pecans

Pepita Seeds

Persimmon

Petunia

Pheasants

Phoenix Worms

Pickleweed Leaves

Pilchards

Pigweed

Pineapple

Pinecones

Pine Nuts

Pink Himalayan Salt (small portions)

Pink Ling

Pistachios

Plankton

Plantain Fruit

Plums

Polenta

Pomegranate

Popcorn (no salt or butter)

Poppy Seeds

Pork (all parts)

Potato

Pot Marigold

Poultry

Prawns

Prickly Pear

Psyllium Husk

Puffed Grains

Pumpkin

Purple Carrot

Purple Sweet Potato

Purslane

Q

Quinoa (white, red, & black)

Quail (all parts)

Quail Egg (all parts)

R

Radish

Rabbit (all parts)

Rainbow Chard

Raisins

Raspberry

Raspberry Leaf

Red Bearberry

Red Elderberry

Red Palm Oil

Reindeer

Reptile Shed (must be unmedicated)

Roaches

Rocket

Romaine Lettuce

Rooibos

Rosehip

Rose Petals & Leaves

Rotifers

Rowan

Rhubarb (stems only)

Rye

Rye Hay

S

Sacred Water Lotus

Safflower

Safflower Oil

Safflower Seeds

Sage Blossoms

Salal

Salmon

Salmonberry - Bark & Leaves only

Salsify

Sand Dollar

Sardines

Scallops

Scotch Broom

Sea Biscuit

Sea Buckthorn

Sea Cucumber

Sea Fan

Sea Grass

Sea Horse

Sea Lettuce

Sea Urchin

Seaweed

Semolina

Sesame Seeds (white & black)

Sesame Oil

Shell Grit

Shrimp

Silkworms

Silkworm Pupae

Silver Burweed

Snowberry - Bark & Leaves only

Sorghum

Sorrel

Sour Sop

Soyabean (cooked)

Sphagnum Moss

Spelt

Spinach

Spirulina (green and blue)

Spirea

Squash

Squid

Starfish

Star Fruit

Stinging Nettle Leaf & Root

Strawberry

Strawberry Leaf

Sultanas (organic, no preservatives)

Sugar Cane

Sunflower

Sunflower Seeds

Superworms

Swamp Cypress Wood

Sweet Potato (yellow & purple)

Sweetgum

Sword Fern - Leaves & Roots only

Sycamore Leaves

T

Tahini (organic, single ingredient)

Tallow

Tamarillo

Tangelo

Tangerine

Tansy Ragwort

Tapioca

Taro

Tarweed

Teff

Thimbleberry

Tilapia

Timothy Hay

Tomato

Tree Fern

Triticale

Trout

Truffle

Tubifex Worms

Tuna

Turkey (all parts)

Turmeric

Turnip

V

Vine Maple (Bark & Leaves)

Viola Flowers

Violet Flowers

W

Walaby (all parts)

Walnuts

Wakame

Watercress

Water Flies

Watermelon (red & yellow)

Wax Worms

Wheat Cereals (organic)

Wheat Germ

Wheat Grass

Wheat

Whole Wheat Couscous

Wild Boar (all parts)

Wild Rice (cooked)

Woodies

Wolfberry (Black Goji Berry)

Worm Castings

Y

Yams

Yumberry

Z

Zucchini

UNSAFE FOOD LIST -

A

Aconite (monks hood)

Additives

African Violet Leaves

African Lily

African Milkbush

Alder Bark

Aloe Vera

Allspice

Amaryllis

American Hellebore

Aniseed

Anti-Caking Agents

Artificial Flavouring

Artifical Sweeteners

Artificial Colours

Avocado Leaves, Skin and Pit

Azalea

B

Bacon

Baneberry

Barley Malt

Bay Leaves

Basil Leaf

Belladonna

BHA

BHT

Bindweed

Bird of Paradise Flowers

Bitter Almond

Bittersweet

Black Elderberry

Black Twin-Berry

Black Walnut

Bloodroot

Bluebonnet

Bottlebrush Flowers

Bougainvillea

Boxwood

Buckthorn

Butter

Buttercup

By Products

C

Cacao

Caffeine

Calcium Caseinate

Canola Oil

Carnation

Castor Bean

Cassava Root

Catnip

Cedar

Celandine

Celtic Salt

Chinese Lantern

Cherimoya Seeds

Chrysanthemum

Chocolate

Cinnamon

Citrus Leaves and Branches

Citronella

Climbing Nightshade

Cloves

Cocoa

Coffee

Columbine

Compost

Copper Sulfate

Coral Plant

Corn Syrup

Crocus

Crown of Thorns

Cube Plant

Cumin

Custard Apple Seeds & Plant (fruit is safe)

Cyclamen

D

Daffodil

Dairy (cow dairy products)

Deli Meats

Delphinium

Derris

Devils Ivy

Diatomaceous Earth

Dieffenbachia

Dill

Dittany

E

Emulsifiers

Essential Oils

Ethoxyquin

Eucalyptus

European Pennyroyal

Evergreen (pine, cedar, juniper)

F

Fennel

Feverfew

Fleabane

Foxglove

G

Garlic

Gelatine

Geranium

Ghee

Ginger

Ginger Root

Golden Pothos

Green Hellebore

H

Heavenly Bamboo

Helebore

Hemlock

Holly Berry

Horse Chestnut

Hyacinth

Hydrangea

I

Iodized Salt

Ivy (all types)

J

Juniper Berries

Junk Food

K

Kalanchoe

Kosher Salt

L

Lacy Tree

Lantana

Larkspur Seed

Laurel

Lavender

Lily

Lime

Lemon

Lemon Balm

Lemon Grass

Lollies

Lucky Bamboo

M

Magarine

Malt Extract

Maltodextrin

Marsh Marigold

Matcha (contains caffeine)

Marinated Meat & Vegetables

Mayweed

Milkbush

Mistletoe

Morning Glory

MSG

Mustard Plant

N

Neem

O

Oleander

Onion

Oxeye Daisy

P

Palm Leaves

Papaya Seed

Parsley Seed

Peace Lily

Pencil Tree Cactus

Pepper (Peppercorns)

Peppermint

Pellets (commercial crab food)

Peony

Pesticides

Philodendron

Pine Wood

Plantpot Dapperling

Plantago

Poinsettia

Pothos

Preservatives

Prickly Juniper

Pride of China Fruit

Prunus Trees - Seeds, Wood, Leaves, Bark and Flowers (Apricot, Bitter Almond, Laurel, Nectarine, Peach, Plum)

R

Ragwort

Rapeseed

Red Emerald

Red Wood

Rice Bran Oil (possible arsenic & heavy metal absorption)

Rosemary

S

Sago Palm

Sansevieria

Schefflera

Sea Salt (cooking salt)

Seasonings

Shasta Daisy

Soy Protein

Sphagnum Peat Moss (NOT the same as Sphagnum Moss)

Stargazer Lily

Stock (cubes, powder, liquid)

Sugar

Sulphur

Sweet Bay Magnolia

Sweet Flag

T

Table Salt

Tansy

Tea

Tea Tree

Textured Protein

Thornapple

Thyme

Tobacco

Tuba Root

Tulips

V

Vanilla Bean

Vanilla Essence

Verbena

Vinca

Vulpicida

W

Walnut Wood/Bark

Whey Protein

Wild Angelica Fruit

Willow

Wisteria

Wolf Lichen

Wormwood

Y

Yarrow

Yeast Extract

Yew

Yogurt

Yuca