By Emily C on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 1:35pm
"Is this food safe?"
We now require the "is this safe for crabs to eat" question to be asked a different way. Instead of a simple inquiry, we want the original poster to first look into it themselves then provide everybody with some links to their findings in a new post. From there, as a group, we can go over the links and make a decision together, based on the information gathered, on if the food item is a risk we feel is safe to take/safe to call safe. This way we can have a melting pot of different opinions and knowledge and it's not just having an admin do all the work when it's something that can be answered more efficiently with help from our members. It's better for all of us, because the item can then be put on our safe/unsafe list with confidence.
We do realize that there are exceptions: such as being mobile and at the store, unable to search the group or peek at the files. This is just a guideline, but your question should be stated similar to this. Here is an example of what we mean, versus what we would like to see discouraged:
"I was trying to determine if apple seeds are safe for crabs to eat. I checked the safe food list, unsafe food list, and searched the group and nothing came up. So, I looked into it. Upon my research, I noted that apple seeds contain small traces of cyanide, particularly called amygdalin.
This is where I read about it:
http://www.pickyourown.org/apple-seeds-cyanide-arsenic.php
Then I tried to search if amygdalin was found in other foods that are in the safe or unsafe list, to see if there was any correlation with the safe or unsafe list to determine if it is safe for crabs to eat: http://www.apexcsllc.com/index_files/AMYGDALIN.htm
Which also led to this study, which is confusing for me to understand on my own, but others may be interested in it: http://campaignfortruth.com/Eclub/230204/CTM%20-%20nitrilosides.htm
I figured that the best next step was to see if crustaceans, insects, rodents, or birds had any sort of relation to amygdalin, maybe they eat it in other things in their native home:http://inspiringscience.net/2014/06/12/how-some-critters-evolved-to-eat-poison/
Some more material: http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/ecology/toxprofiles.htm
With this information, would you determine that apple seeds are safe or unsafe?"
As opposed to, "Can crabs eat apple seeds?"
You can see that it encourages discussion and that a lot of work goes into researching these things. Furthermore, here are some simple tips to help you out:
1) First, check our edible/inedible list from below, remember to look over different variations of what it may be called.
2) If you do not see it on the lists, then try searching the group to see if the question has been asked before.
3) If you still cannot find anything, go to google and search for basic information about what it is, how it is classified (such as what type of tree, what type of flower, what family of vegetable, etc), and if there are multiple names for it.
4) See if there is any known toxin in relation to humans and what it is called. If there is a particular toxin, take that information and relate it to other animals, especially to birds, rodents, insects, and crustaceans. You may also choose to relate it to dogs, cats, horses, or other animals.
5) If finding information on a particular toxin is too difficult, search further into what the food item is and any connections to other animals listed in step 4. It may be helpful to see what other plants are in the same family and see if any of them are on our list.
6) Post every link you looked over that you found helpful, and request that others looks over it and give their opinion. Please be patient, as this takes time to do.
Edible Food List
*Always check for additives! If it has more ingredients than are advertised on the label (i.e. blueberries with preservatives) it probably is not safe.
Acorns (crush and soak overnight in salt water then drain before serving)
Agave
Alfalfa
Almonds, crushed
Amaranth (Ancient grain)
Anchovy oil
Apple and natural, unsweetened apple sauce (do not feed the seeds)
Apricot (do not feed the pit)
Arame
Artichokes
Ash Wood
Asian Pear
Asparagus
Bamboo (live plants make wonderful tank toys and grazing)
Banana (peel is safe ONLY if organic)
Barley
Basil
Beans
Bell peppers (red, yellow, orange, green or purple)
Bee pollen
Beef, no seasoning, *not ground
Beets
Bilberries/Huckleberries
Birch Wood
Bison, no seasoning
Blackberry leaves
Blackberry and leaves
Blackstrap molasses (unsulfured) - amazingly high in nutrients such as calcium and potassium; 1-2 times monthly
Bladderwrack
Bloodworms (alive or dead)
Blueberries
Bok Choy (limited quantities)
Borage blossoms (Borago officinalis)
Brazil nuts
Broccoli and leaves
Brown rice (no instant rice)
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage (all varieties)
Calcium carbonate powder, plain
Calendula flowers (Calendula officinalis)-Also known as "pot marigolds"
Camellia (Camellia japonica)
Cantaloupe
Carnation flowers (Dianthus caryophyllus)
Caribou, no seasoning
Carrots
Carrot tops
Cashews
Cauliflower and leaves
Celery leaves
Cereal; Brown rice, soy, wheat or 7 grain, muesli
Chamomile flowers
Chard
Cherimoya
Cherry, Fruit and wood (no pits)
Chestnuts
Chia Seeds
Chicken bones
Chicken, cooked and unseasoned (smash the bone for marrow access)
ChickweedChlorella
Cholla wood (untreated, NO Hobby Lobby cholla)
Cilantro
Citrus (all fruits, skin edible if organic)
Clams
Clover blossoms and leaves
Coconut meat, shell, water and coconut oil
Cod liver oil
Collards
Coral
Cork bark
Corn (on the cob, too)
Cornmeal
Cranberries (dehydrated)
Crickets
Crustaceans (any and all crustacea including crayfish, lobster, shrimp and other crabs)
Cucumber
Currants
Cuttlefish bone
Daisies (Bellis perennis)
Dandelion flowers, leaves and roots (Taraxacum officinale)
Dates
Day lilies (Hemerocallis)
Duck
Earthworms
Egg, scrambled or soft boiled
Eggplant
Eggshells
Elderberries
Elderberry flowers (Sambucus canadensis)
Elk, no seasoning
Extra-virgin olive oil
Fig (ripe fruit only)
Fish, no seasoning
Fish Oil
Flax seeds/Linseeds (crushed)
Flax seed oil (small amounts infrequently)
Garbanzos
Gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.)
Goji berries (aka wolf berries)
Gooseberry (ripe or overripe)
Grape Leaf
Grapes
Grapevine (vines and root)
Grasshoppers
Green and red leaf lettuce (not iceburg; dark green)
Green Beans
Green Tea leaves
Guava
Hazel leaves
Hazel nuts
Hemp seeds
Hemp seed Meal
Hibiscus flowers (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
Hollyhock flowers
Honey (organic, or at least locally produced, for anti-microbials)
Honeybush
Honeydew Melon
Honeysuckle flowers (Japanese Lonicera japonica)
Hot Peppers (Chile, Habanero, Jalepeno)
Impatiens (Impatiens wallerana)
Irish Moss
Japanese red maple leaves, dried (Acer palmatum)
Jasmine flowers (Jasmine officinale)
Johnny-Jump-Up flowers--(Viola tricolor)
Kale
Kamut
Kelp
Kiwi
Krill
Lamb's Ear/Wool
Lentils
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Lima Beans
Liver, no seasoning
Lobster with crushed exoskeleton
Locusts (dead)
Lychee fruit (fresh; no kernel)
Macadamia nuts
Madrona wood
Mango
Mangrove (small live trees can be obtained on eBay, use in water basin)
Maple leaves
Maple syrup
Marion Berries
Mealworms
Millet
Milk thistle flowers (Silybum marianum)
Mint (but not peppermint!)
Moose, no seasoning
Mopani wood, un stained, natural only
Most organic baby foods
Muscadine (grapes)
Mushrooms
Mussels
Nasturtium flowers (Tropaeolum majus)
Nectarine
Nettle (wilted)
Nettle, stinging (pour boiling water over leaves first)
Oak Leaves and bark
Octopus
Okra
Olive and olive oil (extra virgin)
Oranges
Oysters
Pansy flowers and leaves (Viola X Wittrockiana)
Papaya
Parsley
Parsnip
Passionflowers (Passifloraceae - passion flower family)
Passionfruit
Peaches (do not feed the pit)
Peanut butter (avoid sugar, corn syrup and hydrogenated oils)
Peanuts
Pears
Peas
Pecans
Pecan bark
Peonies
Peppers (habenero, jalapeño, chile) *Bell peppers (red, yellow, orange, green or purple)
Persimmon
Petunia blossoms
Pineapple
*Pine Nuts (nuts only, frozen or baked to kill pests)
Pistachio nuts
Plankton
Plantain
Plum
Pomegranate
Popcorn (unseasoned, unflavored, unbuttered)
Pork, no seasoning
Potato (no green parts, including eyes)
Prickly pear
Psyllium & husks
Pumpkin
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Quinoa (New World grain)
Radish
Raisins (no sulphur dioxide)
Raspberry
Red raspberry leaves (highest bioavailable calcium source + vit. C and trace minerals)
*Repashy crested gecko (in moderation due to salt in the ingredients)
*Repashy crested gecko classic (in moderation due to salt in the ingredients)
Rolled Oats
Rooibus (or rooibos)
Roquette (Eruca vesicaria)
Rose petals (Rosa spp)
Rose hips
Royal Jelly
Russian Olive leaves (Elaeagnus angustifolia)
Safflower oil
Sage blossoms (Salvia officinalis)
Salmon
Sand dollars
Sardines
Scallops
Sea biscuits
Sea fan (red or black)
Sea grasses
Sea salt (*not to be used in place of marine salt)
Sea Sponges
Sea urchins
Seaweed
Semolina
Sesame seeds (crushed)
Sesame oil (in tiny amounts as appetite stimulant)
Shrimp and exoskeletons
Silkworms
Snails (use human food grade only; not wild snails)
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
Soy and soy products (human grade; miso, tofu, etc.)
Spelt
Spinach
Spirulina (complete protein and chlorophyll source; highest in beta carotene)
Sprouts (flax, wheat, bean, alfalfa, etc.)
Squid
Squash (and squash blossom)
Star fruit (carambola)
Strawberry and tops
Sugar cane
Sunflower Seeds (crushed), flowers and leaves (Helianthus)
Swamp cypress wood (false cypress, taxodium sp.)
Sweet potato (cooked only)
Sycamore leaf
Tahini (no garlic variety)
Tamarillo
Tangerine
Timothy hay
Tomato
Tree Fern
Triticale
Tulip flowers (Tulipa spp.)
Tuna
Turkey. no seasoning
*Turmeric
Turnip greens
Venison, no seasoning
Viola flowers
Violet flowers (Viola odorata)
Walnuts
Wasa All-Natural Crispbread (Oat flavor)
Watercress
Watermelon (no seeds)
Wax worms
Wheat grass
Wheat
Wheat germ
Whitefish
Whole Wheat Couscous
Wild rice
Worm castings
Zucchini (and zucchini flowers)*
A partial list of Edible Sea Vegetables:
Spirulina
Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus)
Nori (Porphyra sp.)
Wakame (Undaria Pinnatifida)
Dulse/Dillisk (Palmaria palmata, Rhodymenia palmata)
Green Seaweed (Ulva lactuca)
Mojaban (Sargassum fulvellum)
Sea Whip fronds (Nereocystis) Sea palm
Alaria (Longicruris)
Various kelp species:
Kombu (Laminaria sp.)
Laverbread (Porphyra dioica, Porphyra purpurea)
Digitata (Alaria esculenta)
Gracilaria parvispora
Bladderwrack (Gracilaria changgi or Fucus vesiculosis)
Sugarwrack (Laminaria saccharina)
All sea vegetables are members of the algae family.
Inedible Food List
While it is true that crabs are scavengers with a wide repertoire of foods they can eat, there
are many plants and foods that just should not be fed to a crab. The foods on this list are to
be avoided. Some are toxic, some are insect repellents or used as insecticides, and some the crabs
just won't go near.
Aconite (Monk's Hood)
African violet leaves
African daisy (Osteospermum)
Alder bark
Aloe & Aloe vera (interferes with potassium absorption)
Amaryllis
American Hellebore
Anemone/Windflower
Aniseed
*Avocado (leaves, pit and skin are toxic so it is recommended that it be avoided altogether)
Azalea/Rhododendron
Bay leaves (natural insect repellent)
Bindweed
Bird of Paradise Flowers
Black Pepper
Bluebonnet
Bottlebrush flowers
Bougainvillea
Boxwood
Buckthorn
Buttercup
Carnation leaves
Castor Bean
Catnip
*Cheerios (most contain sugar, etc. and should be avoided)
Cherimoya Seeds
Chocolate/cocoa
Chrysanthemum
Cinnamon
Citrus (leaves and branches to be avoided; part of the evergreen family. The fruit is fine)
Coffee (contains phenols and carcinogens)*
Columbine
Compost (unless 100% organic)
Crocus
Crown of Thorns
Cube Plant
Custard Apple (young fruit)
Cyclamen
Delphinium
Derris
Dieffenbachia
Dill
Dittany
Eucalyptus
European pennyroyal
Evergreen (pine, cedar, juniper, etc.)
Feverfew
Fleabane
Fruit Pits (Acocado, Apricot, Cherry, Peach, Mango Stone,etc)
Garlic
Geranium
*Ginger
Golden Pothos
Green hellebore
Hemlock
Holly Berries
Horsetail
Hydrangeas
Ivy (of any kind)
Juniper Berries
Kalanchoe
Larkspur seed
Laurel
Lavender
Lemon Balm (Sweet Melissa)
Lemon Grass
Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)
Mayweed
Mistletoe
Morning Glory
Mulberry leaves
Oleander
Onion
Oxeye daisy
Papaya seed
Parsley Seed (fruit)
Peace Lily
Pencil Tree Cactus
Peppermint
Philodendron
Pine or cedar wood or needles
Prickly juniper
Pride of China fruit
Prunus species trees (apricot, bitter almond, cherry, cherry laurel,
nectarine, peach, plum) Fleshy fruits are edible, everything else
contains a cyanide-like compound and is fatally toxic, including
seeds, wood, leaves, bark and flowers.
Red Emerald
*Repashy Products (Beach Buffet)
Rosemary
Sago Palm
Sanseveria
Schefflera
Stargazer Lily (Lilium x Stargazer)
Sweet Flag
Tansy
Tea Tree
Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora)
Thornapple
Thyme
Tobacco
Vanillin
Verbena
Vinca
Wild Angelica fruit
Wormwood
Yew
Yarrow
This food list is mainly adapted from Summer Michealson and Stacey Arenella's book,
The All-Natural Hermit Crab Sourcebook, and expanded on by Julia Crab and others.
*Denotes HCO edits.
HCO Admin Note: This list was posted from epicurean-hermit.com with explicit permission to do so. We do not claim to own this information or take credit for compiling it. We highly recommend browsing this forum and the articles, lists, etc for further information on hermit crab nutrition.