Hermit crabs are known as omnivores, enabling you to feed them with almost anything. From fish eggs and small snails to fruits and vegetables, their food options won’t disappoint you.
But can hermit crabs eat blueberries? Well, it still becomes one of the questions most asked by hermit crabs’ owners. Find out whether you can feed your hermit crabs with blueberries here.
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Are Blueberries Safe for Hermit Crabs?
If you wonder whether it is safe to feed hermit crabs with blueberries, the answer is yes. These fruits don’t only taste good, but they are also nutritious.
Additionally, blueberries come in tiny sizes, making them fit into hermit crabs’ mouths easily. In this way, your pet will find it easy to chew the blueberries.
Moreover, the small size of the fruits also allows the hermit crabs to digest them easily. Another great thing about feeding your pet with blueberries is that they can be eaten raw, dried, and cooked.
Is the Fruit Healthy for Hermit Crabs?
Questioning the healthy benefits of blueberries for hermit crabs should be the first thing you consider before adding the fruit to your pet’s diet.
To answer this question, you should explore the nutritional value of blueberries. They contain vitamin A (59 IU), vitamin B3 (0.418 mg), vitamin C (9.7 m), vitamin E (0.57 mg), Potassium (77 mg), Magnesium (8.88 mg), and more.
Some other nutrients you can find in blueberries are:
1. Beta Carotene
Due to the bright color of blueberries, you can easily find out that the fruits are rich in beta carotene. This organic pigment is known to play an important role in the coloration of the berries.
In other words, your hermit crabs will need this organic pigment to keep their bright color as well.
In this way, adding blueberries to hermit crabs’ diet will help them to get back their bright appearance once their body starts to look duller.
2. Fats
Blueberries are also loaded with fats in a moderate amount. As for hermit crabs, they need this compound to help them absorb fat-soluble vitamins effectively.
3. Carbohydrates
Blueberries are also known to contain high carbohydrates. The compound serves 2 crucial functions in your pet.
Carbohydrates in hermit crabs are their main source of energy. Furthermore, carbohydrates also play an essential role in maintaining hermit crabs’ chitin.
4. Calcium
Just like humans, hermit crabs also need calcium. They need this compound to allow them to maintain the health of their exoskeletal.
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Cooked Blueberries for Hermit Crabs
Just like other fruits, it is also possible for your hermit crabs to eat blueberries even in the rawest form when they are in the wild.
Compared to the dried and cooked blueberries, the raw and fresh ones are more preferable for the hermit crabs.
However, cooking blueberries will make it possible for the fruits to release more antioxidants. Not only that, but your hermit crabs will also absorb these compounds in much easier ways.
However, make sure that you don’t cook the blueberries too long since it will cause them to lose important nutrients.