Can Hermit Crabs Eat Blueberries? All You Need to Know

Hermit crabs can eat blueberries, they benefit from blueberries like coloration improvement and getting antioxidants. However, there is much to know about blueberries as part of the hermit crab diet.

Hermit crabs need a variety of diets to maintain their overall health. With that being said blueberries can take the diet to the next level with their high nutrition and health benefits by being with balanced food.

Nutrition values in blueberries

Here are the nutrition values found in blueberries for 100 grams. The values can vary slightly depending on the types of blueberries.

• Antioxidants – Blueberries are rich in various antioxidants like quercetin and anthocyanins. Quercetin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, contributing to heart health, and anthocyanins are known for their anti-inflammatory.
• Carbohydrates – Blueberries contain carbohydrates mainly in the form of dietary fiber and natural sugar. Dietary fiber supports digestive health and helps control blood sugar levels with a feeling of fullness.
• Vitamins – Blueberries contain a variety of vitamins including vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin B6. These vitamins have antioxidant properties that help with skin health and immune system function and absorption of iron, important for clotting and bone health, and help the body convert food into energy.
• Minerals – They are rich in minerals such as potassium and manganese.
• Sugars – Blueberries contain natural sugars, mainly fructose. The natural sugars in blueberries are accompanied by fiber, which can help regulate the absorption of sugars and prevent rapid spikes in blood sugar levels.

Impact on hermit crabs

Those are the natural benefits that can be found in blueberries. Here are how hermit crabs can benefit from blueberries.

• Antioxidants – The rich antioxidants in blueberries (anthocyanins and quercetin) help neutralize harmful free radicals, which can be beneficial for the cellular health of hermit crabs.
• Nutrient content – Essential nutrient vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin B6 contribute to the overall health of hermit crabs including their immune system, metabolic processes, and overall vitality.
• Natural sugar and Carbohydrates – The natural sugars and carbohydrates are a great source of energy for hermit crabs. Carbohydrates make hermit crabs more active fueling their activities. Carbohydrates also support their growth and maintain energy reserves.
• Water content – The high water content in blueberries (about 84%) can contribute to the hydration of hermit crabs. This can be an alternative to fresh water, especially when you are out of the home and you have the fear of spilling water. Proper hydration is essential for the well-being and functioning of their internal organs.
• Contribution to a balanced diet – Introducing fruits like blueberries ensures that hermit crabs receive a well-rounded and balanced diet. The variety helps meet their nutritional needs and prevents nutritional deficiencies.
• Increasing color – The most visible impact on hermit crabs is considered its ability to increase exoskeleton coloration and vibrancy giving a colorful appearance. Though there is no direct and scientifically proven link.

Potential harms of feeding blueberries to hermit crabs

There is not much bad about blueberries. These are the potential risks that should be considered but they will most probably not harm your crab and these should not be the reasons for not feeding blueberries.

• Digestive Issues – Hermit crabs eat decaying plants and animal matter in the wild as well as fresh food. They are not used to eating blueberries, so introducing blueberries to the hermit crabs makes them excited about the food and eat it, eventually, they love eating blueberries. Sometimes sudden changes in food may cause digestive upset including diarrhea.
• High Sugar Content – The natural sugars that are found in blueberries can be excessive sometimes. Though they are natural, excessive consumption of sugar can lead to weight gain and other health issues for hermit crabs.
• Pesticide Residues – The pesticides in the blueberries can be harmful to the crab. Bring safer food from the market as much as you can and wash thoroughly to remove pesticide residues.
• Risk of Spoilage – Fruits like blueberries start rotting after some time of serving in the bowl which can affect their health. So remove any uneaten blueberries from the crabitat.
• Allergic Reactions – Hermit crabs do not have allergic reactions like humans but individual crabs may have preferences or aversions to certain foods. If you see any changes in their behavior after serving for the first time, consider monitoring whether blueberries are good or bad for the individual crab.

The serving method

Start with a small amount like half or one-fourth of a blueberry and then increase the amount to a full berry. Different crabs may have different consumption rates but not more than one blueberry in a week for each crab.

(You can give blueberries as treats and rewards for promised food of the training as hermit crabs can be trained with some behaviors)

Monitor their behavior after feeding them and take action if you see any changes in health. If your crab can consume more and is obsessed with it you can increase the feeding frequency.

Other ways of introducing blueberries

While raw blueberries are the best way of giving blueberries (because hermit crabs like anything fresh and raw in their diet more than cooked food and processed food lose some nutrients), you can try some other options like dried blueberries, frozen blueberries, blueberry juice, blueberry puree, blueberry powder, and other blueberry flavored treats.

1. Dried blueberries – Dried blueberries can be an alternative to fresh ones while it is dried at home. Usually, commercial dried blueberries have added sugars or preservatives which will be bad for a hermit crab.
2. Frozen blueberries – Frozen blueberries can also be a good alternative where fresh ones are not readily available because they can nearly hold all of the nutritional values and thaw before offering.
3. Blueberry juice – Before introducing raw blueberries, the juice can be a good option to see whether your crab will like raw ones or not. The juice mustn’t contain sugar and any other additives.

Related article – hermit crab diet