How to Feed a Mini Crab

The diminutive mini crabs, also known as fiddler crabs, live in a tough and changeable environment in the wild. The brackish marshes they inhabit are a mixture of land and water, and conditions can vary with the tides. As a result, these crabs are relatively hardy in captivity. Mini crabs are omnivorous scavengers that eat practically everything they find. However, to keep your pets healthy, you should feed a variety of nutritious foods.

Things You'll Need

  • Heavy, shallow ceramic dish
  • Plastic container
  • Algae pellets
  • Frozen food for fish
  • Shrimp pellets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place a shallow dish in the land area of the crabs' tank. A dish with a rough texture and sloping sides enables crabs to climb in and out easily. An aquarium or reptile and amphibian supply store should stock suitable dishes.

    • 2

      Scoop out a little of the water from the water area of the tank with the plastic container and place in the dish.

    • 3

      Place algae-based pellets, meaty foods, such as frozen shrimp and bloodworms and shrimp pellets in the dish daily. To avoid polluting the tank, adjust the amount you feed until the crabs only leave a small amount after each meal. Because these crabs mainly eat algae in the wild, it is best to use the algae pellets as the basic diet and supplement with small amounts of the meaty foods.

    • 4

      Empty the dish of any leftover scraps each day before adding fresh food. Rinse with dechlorinated water if necessary.

    • 5

      Feed the crabs in the water part of the tank if they do not appear to be eating from the dish. Take special care not to feed too much, as the water can become polluted easily. Weekly water changes should prevent the water becoming too dirty, but increase to twice per week if necessary.