How Much Does Hermit Crab Food Cost? A Detailed Breakdown

Hermit crabs make for fun, low-maintenance pets that don’t require a ton of space or expensive supplies. But like any pet, you do need to budget for food costs. So how much does hermit crab food cost on a monthly basis?

Having owned hermit crabs for years, I’m very familiar with the costs. In this article, I’ll provide a detailed breakdown of how much you can expect to spend on food for your pet hermit crab.

An Overview of Hermit Crab Dietary Needs

Hermit crabs are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. Their diet should consist of:

• High-quality commercial hermit crab diet
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Animal protein like shrimp, insects, worms
• Calcium from cuttlebone or eggshells

They particularly enjoy tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, and papaya. Leafy greens like kale and spinach are also good choices.

Hermit crabs have trace mineral and vitamin needs as well. Their food should contain iodine, selenium, and antioxidants.

With proper nutrition hermit crabs can live 10-15 years. So it’s important to feed them a varied, well-balanced diet.

Cost of Commercial Hermit Crab Food

The main component of your hermit crab’s diet will likely be a commercial crab food. This ensures they get balanced nutrition in an easy format.

Some top commercial diets for hermit crabs include:

• Zoo Med Hermit Crab Food
• Fluker’s Buffet Blend Hermit Crab Food
• JurassiDiet Hermit Crab Food
• HBH Crab Cuisine

These foods come in various sized containers, usually ranging from 4 oz trial sizes up to 24 oz buckets. The cost ranges from $3 for a 4 oz container up to $30 for a 24 oz bucket.

To determine how long each size will last, you need to know how much you will be feeding. A good rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon of food per crab, per day.

So for example, if you have 2 medium sized crabs, you would feed 2 teaspoons total per day. A 4 oz container would last around 30 days for 2 crabs.

Here is a breakdown of how long different container sizes will last for 1-4 crabs:

• 4 oz: 30 days for 1 crab, 15 days for 2 crabs, 8 days for 4 crabs
• 8 oz: 60 days for 1 crab, 30 days for 2 crabs, 15 days for 4 crabs
• 24 oz: 180 days for 1 crab, 90 days for 2 crabs, 45 days for 4 crabs

As you can see, the larger containers provide the best value overall. But the smaller sizes are good for trying out new foods.

I recommend budgeting $10-15 monthly for commercial hermit crab diet. Opt for larger containers to bring the average monthly cost down.

Cost of Fresh Foods

In addition to commercial diet, hermit crabs need fresh foods. This provides enrichment and supplemental nutrition.

Offer a rotating variety of fruits, veggies, and animal proteins 2-3 times per week. Here are some estimated costs for fresh food:

• Produce – $5-10 per month
• Animal protein – $5 per month
• Calcium – $2 per month

I buy produce in bulk when possible and freeze extras into portions to feed later. This cuts down on waste.

For animal protein, I offer freeze-dried shrimp, mealworms, or crickets. These come in containers and last a while.

Cuttlebone and crushed eggshell provide calcium. These cost just a couple bucks and will last 6+ months.

So in total, budget about $15 monthly for fresh foods for 1-2 crabs. Adjust up or down slightly depending on how many crabs you have.

Additional Supplies

You’ll also need to account for food dishes, substrate, and other supplies related to feeding. Here are some typical costs:

• Food dish – $5 one time cost
• Extra shells – $5 per year
• Dechlorinator – $10 per year
• Substrate – $10 per year

The food dish is a one time purchase that should last indefinitely. Hermit crabs need extra shells to change into as they grow, so factor in a couple replacement shells per year.

Dechlorinator is used to remove chlorine from water before giving it to your crabs. And substrate needs changing out once or twice a year.

Overall, budget about $15-20 per year for these additional supplies.

Total Annual Hermit Crab Food Costs

Adding up all of the costs discussed above, here is an overview of total annual food costs for 1-2 hermit crabs:

• Commercial diet: $120-180 per year
• Fresh foods: $180 per year
• Supplies: $15-20 per year

So in total, expect to spend $315-380 per year to feed 1-2 hermit crabs.

The exact total will vary based on factors like:

• Number of crabs
• Container sizes purchased
• Types of fresh foods selected

But in general, $300-400 annually is typical for food costs for a pair of hermit crabs.

Tips for Saving Money on Hermit Crab Food

Here are some tips to help reduce food costs for your hermit crabs:

• Buy larger containers of commercial diet.
• Look for sales and coupons on specialty pet foods.
• Purchase produce in bulk when on sale.
• Offer affordable fresh options like carrots, greens, and broccoli.
• Buy calcium supplements in large containers or bulk.
• Reuse/sterilize food dishes rather than replacing.
• Choose substrate that lasts longer, like sand.

With some savvy shopping and bulk purchases, you can trim down the monthly costs. But never skimp on nutrition – your crabs rely on you for a healthy, balanced diet.

Is Hermit Crab Food Expensive Overall?

Compared to many other pets, hermit crabs are relatively affordable. Food costs range from $25-50 per month for a pair of crabs.

Dogs and cats cost $40-60 or more per month to feed. Other small pets like guinea pigs and rabbits have similar monthly food bills as hermit crabs.

The startup costs of supplies and habitat make up the bulk of the expense for pet hermit crabs. But the recurring cost of food is quite reasonable, especially for small animals.

With proper care and feeding, hermit crabs can live over a decade. So the annual food cost ends up being pretty minimal when you consider their lifespan.

All in all, food expenses shouldn’t deter you from considering hermit crabs as pets. With adequate nutrition, they make low maintenance, fascinating companions for many years.

Key Takeaways on Hermit Crab Food Costs

To summarize key points from this article:

• Expect to spend $10-15 per month on a commercial hermit crab diet.
• Budget another $15 or so for fresh foods each month.
• Additional supplies will be about $15-20 per year.
• Total annual food costs for 1-2 crabs averages $315-380.
• Larger containers of commercial diet offer the best value overall.
• Hermit crab food is quite affordable compared to many other pets.

With a little planning and budgeting, you can easily provide great nutrition for your hermit crabs. Their food costs are very reasonable, especially given their long lifespan as pets.

Hermit crabs are generally considered inexpensive to care for, especially compared to other common pets. Initial costs for supplies and the crab itself can be around $100-$200, with monthly expenses for food and supplies averaging $15-$20.