Do Crabs Eat Bacon? What You Need To Know

Bacon is a staple breakfast food for many people. Who doesn’t love the smell of sizzling bacon in the morning? But have you ever wondered if crabs enjoy bacon too? As a crab owner or enthusiast, it’s important to understand what crabs can and cannot eat. Keep reading to find out if crabs eat bacon!

An Overview of Crabs and Their Diets

There are over 6,700 species of crabs worldwide. They are found in all of the world’s oceans, as well as freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams. Crabs are decapod crustaceans, meaning they have five pairs of legs and exoskeletons made of chitin.

Crabs are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. Their diets can vary greatly depending on their species and habitat. Marine crabs eat algae, plankton, fish, mollusks, worms, and pretty much anything else they can find. Freshwater crabs consume plants, insects, snails, dead fish, and detritus.

Land crabs are the most herbivorous eating fruits, seeds flowers, leaves, stems, roots, and fungi. They will also eat carrion and other organic matter. The large coconut crab even hunts birds and rats!

Can Pet Crabs Eat Bacon?

The most common pet crab is the hermit crab. These small crabs use discarded shells for protection as they grow. Hermit crabs sold in pet stores are usuallymarine species from warm tropical climates. They are accustomed to eating a wide variety of foods.

Hermit crabs will eat anything from fish food to cat food. They particularly enjoy fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and meat. So it’s understandable to wonder — can hermit crabs eat bacon?

The short answer is no Bacon is not recommended for pet hermit crabs for a few important reasons

• Too Salty – Bacon contains a lot of sodium way more than hermit crabs need. Eating salty foods can harm their gills and internal organs.

• Preservatives – Bacon contains nitrates, nitrites, and other preservatives that are toxic to crabs. Even small amounts can make them sick.

• Fatty – The high fat content of bacon is difficult for crabs to digest properly. It can cause gastrointestinal issues.

• Processed – Anything heavily processed is unhealthy for hermit crabs. Bacon is smoked, cured, and stripped of nutrients crabs need.

• No Nutritional Value – Bacon lacks the nutritional value that crabs need from their food. It doesn’t contain adequate protein, vitamins, or minerals.

While bacon may seem like a tasty treat, it offers no real benefits for hermit crabs. Even just a few pieces could cause diarrhea, malnutrition, or salt poisoning. It’s best to avoid feeding bacon to pet crabs altogether.

Healthy Human Foods for Crabs

Instead of bacon, there are many healthy human foods that make great crab treats! Here are some of the best options:

• Fresh fruits like mango, papaya, strawberry, and banana (remove peel)

• Vegetables like cucumber, sweet potato, carrot, and zucchini

• Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, barley, and oats

• Unsalted nuts like almonds, cashews, and walnuts (chopped)

• Hard boiled egg yolk

• Plain cooked chicken or turkey (unseasoned, boneless)

• Unsweetened yogurt (plain or vanilla)

• Natural peanut or almond butter

When feeding any human food, moderation is key. Treats should make up no more than 10% of a crab’s overall diet. Be sure to mix up options for variety. Also, remove any uneaten food within 24 hours before it spoils.

Best Foods for Crabs

While crabs enjoy human food on occasion, their staple diet should consist of foods specially made for omnivorous crustaceans. Here are some of the best store-bought foods for pet crabs:

• High-quality pellet formulas for omnivorous hermit crabs

• Freeze-dried shrimp, krill, and plankton

• Dried seaweed strips for marine hermits

• Calcium supplements like cuttlebone and crab shells

• Fresh vegetables like carrots, squash, kale, sweet potato

• Unsweetened fruits like mango, papaya, cantaloupe, apples

• Nutrient-rich mushy mixes made for hermit crabs

• Live mealworms, crickets, and other feeder insects

• Raw meats like poultry, beef, fish (freeze first to prevent parasites)

Varying a crab’s diet will provide balanced nutrition. Be sure to include a calcium source at each meal. Pellet food can be left in the tank at all times. But meats, fruits, veggies should be removed within 24 hours.

Feeding Crabs for Optimal Health

Follow these tips for feeding crabs a nutritious diet:

• Feed an assortment of foods each day
• Include raw meat/fish 1-2 times per week
• Rotate fruits and veggies for diversity
• Remove uneaten fresh foods within 24 hours
• Rinse foods well before feeding
• Avoid citrus fruits, onion, garlic, salt
• Don’t feed bacon, junk food, chocolate, etc.
• Add calcium supplement daily
• Only give treats sparingly (10% of diet)
• Ensure food dish stays clean

With proper nutrition, habitat, and care, pet crabs can live over a decade. Be selective when choosing foods to give your crabs the best chance at a long, healthy life. Bacon definitely doesn’t make the cut!

Crabs in the Wild

Now that we know bacon is off the menu, what do crabs eat out in nature? Wild crabs are skilled opportunistic foragers within their native habitats. Here’s a quick look at some natural foods they consume:

• Marine crabs – algae, seagrasses, coral, sponges, worms, mollusks, small fish, carrion.

• Freshwater crabs – aquatic plants, larvae, snails, worms, tadpoles, detritus, fruits/seeds.

• Land crabs – seeds, fruits, leaves, flowers, fungi, roots, carrion, eggs, slow animals.

• Coconut crabs – fruits, nuts, seeds, leaves, flowers, dead animals, slow-moving prey.

Crabs aren’t picky! They will eat just about anything they can find. Their adaptability helps them thrive in diverse habitats. Wild crabs certainly don’t seek out bacon, but they have a smorgasbord of natural food sources to choose from.

Can crabs eat bacon? While wild crabs eat a wide variety of foods based on availability, bacon is not a healthy choice for pet hermit crabs. Bacon contains too much sodium, fat, preservatives, and lacks proper nutrition. There are many better people foods and commercially made options to feed pet crabs instead. With a balanced diet, proper habitat, and attentive care, hermit crabs can live long, active lives as fascinating pets. So skip the bacon, and enjoy getting creative with healthy crab cuisine!