Can Hermit Crabs Eat Popcorn?
Can hermit crabs eat popcorn, and is it healthy for them? It’s fairly common knowledge that hermit crabs DO LIKE popcorn! But sometimes hermit crab pet owners are worried that it may not be healthy.
In general, popcorn is a fun snack but doesn’t have much nutritional value. Most microwaveable popcorn contains a ton of palm oil and salt, plus coloring and citric acid so it stays fresh. Not great ingredients if the goal is feeding your hermit crab pets healthy, natural and nutritious foods.
There ARE some types of popcorn that are healthier and more natural than others, and certainly these would be the better choices (for them AND for you, right?!).
Popcorn is a great 'occasional' snack
Hermit crabs ARE scavengers, and they eat lots of gross stuff in the wild including rotting fish and dog poop. Yes, it’s gross to even think about!
So will a few pieces of popcorn cause any health issues? Not likely, and they’ll enjoy the treat!
Hermit crabs really DO enjoy popcorn! And it’s a smart treat to give them because it’s dry, so there’s no risk to it growing mold quickly and attracting fruit flies and other pests (like strawberries do, as an example).
As long as you are feeding your hermit crabs healthy, unprocessed foods daily… an occasional treat of popcorn is something that will make them happy! And when you go on vacation or you’re away from the house for a few days, a few pieces of popcorn in the habitat ensures they’ll have extra food to snack on.
Want to see what happens when we fed Fred (our 15 year old hermit crab) a couple pieces of popcorn? (hint: Fred LOVES popcorn, see what happens when he thinks it might get taken away!) We’ve got video!
What’s a great, healthy snack food that hermit crabs love? Check this out!!