what do hermit crabs eat??

[tyh]

i have 3 red legged hermits which were introduced a week ago into my7 gal tank.

2 of em have disappeared!!

 

what do these fellas eat?

[NaNO ReeFiN]

They're scavengers, you really don't need to feed them.. but if you must, you can add a little bit of fish food after the lights go out so the food can sink to the bottom and they could eat it.. I'm guessing your hermits are just hiding somewhere in the rocks or behind it or something.

[tyh]

but i'm now in the process of cycling my tank... so no feeding at all..

do they eat diatoms or algae?

[Korbin]

From what I've seen, I think they eat whatever they can fit in their mouths (or whatever they have). I let mine snack on some sinking fish food or fish food pellets made from shrimp. They go nuts for it. They shouldnt die from starvation during cycling. I had like 7 little blue leg hermits in my 3 while it was cycling and I didn't feed them. Blue legs are really hardy. Maybe get one of those.

[ross76053]

I agree with NaNO - you don't have to feed them, but it doesn't hurt to throw 'em a bone every now and then. I'll throw in a shrimp pellet or two when company comes over to let them see all the hermits come out (I have one that spends much of his day in a hole in my LR). Other than that, they forage for themselves.