Red claw crabs are among the most popular crabs in the world thanks to their signature look, which is, obviously, their bright red claws. They look beautiful in tanks and are very interesting creatures beneath the surface! They are super-strong, both in will and in a fight, and they love to eat all kinds of things, making them very easy to please!
Red claw crabs are not necessarily the best tank mates for all kinds of sea creatures. They tend to eat nearly anything, including other sea creatures that they can get their pincers on. However, it is important to remember that they do need a varied diet in order to thrive, and that includes certain plant-based ingredients.
In this article, we will take a look at the foods that red claw crabs will eat, both fresh and not, and the types of live animals that they are likely to take a bite out of if given the chance!
Will red claw crabs eat ghost shrimp?
Yes, red claw crabs will eat ghost shrimp. In fact, shrimp form a very important part of their diet! They provide a great amount of protein and are relatively easy for them to eat. So, if you were wondering about incorporating shrimp into your red claw crabs’ diet, then, yes, ghost shrimp make a fantastic choice of snack.
On the other hand, if you were wondering about keeping red claw crabs and shrimp together in the same tank, then this would be a bad idea. Generally speaking, the two do not mix well and will likely attack each other.
Crabs are territorial creatures and will fight to protect their land and to eat. Ghost shrimp also happen to be pretty aggressive creatures and generally do not mix too well with other animals.
That being said, there have been cases in which crabs and shrimp have proven to be able to live together – however, they are rare and definitely not worth the risk. If you plan on keeping red claw crabs, it is best to keep them away from the shrimp unless they are for dinner!
Do red claw crabs eat snails?
Yes, red claw crabs do eat snails. In fact, in the wild, snails tend to be a pretty important part of their diet as they are easy to catch, easy to eat, and full of protein.
Again, if you are planning on keeping some snails in a tank with red claw crabs, then it is definitely worth rethinking it! Although snails tend to be pretty docile animals and can protect themselves well against certain creatures, they would definitely not have a great time in a tank with red claw crabs.
Red claw crabs are scavengers and will pretty much eat whatever they can get their claws on. Therefore, placing them with snails would be like offering the snails up on a silver platter.
There have been instances in which the snails and crabs appear to have done relatively well in a tank together; however, these too are rare cases and should not be tried. The crabs will likely kill the snails and eat them, so it is best to keep them apart.
Can red claw crabs eat fruit?
Fruit isn’t generally the best snacks for these crabs. That said, red claw crabs are omnivores, so they need a well-balanced diet in order to thrive. As was previously mentioned, they are happy to live on shrimp, snails, and other forms of protein such as fish pellets, etc. However, they do also need their fair share of leafy greens to stay in shape!
There isn’t much information out there about red claw crabs eating fruit, however, you will find that they do need a balanced diet that does include certain vegetables such as spinach, peas, squash, etc. The chances are that general fruit will not have the nutrition that they need.
That being said, you may find that your red claw crabs do indeed like some fruit now and then. Given that they are scavenging animals, they tend to eat what they can find on the bottom of their tanks.
However, just to ensure that they are getting the nutrition that they need, it is best to opt for the leafy greens, vegetables and protein and avoid fruit.
Can red claw crabs eat lettuce?
Yes, red claw crabs can indeed eat lettuce. In fact, they thrive on it! It is a good idea to feed all sorts of leafy greens to your crabs and let them show you which ones they prefer. They need all kinds of vegetables and lettuces due to their high nutrition value for the red claw crabs.
That being said, it is important to remember that red claw crabs are omnivorous. They cannot thrive only on leafy greens and vegetables, and they will need a good diet full of protein, as well! Foods such as shrimp, shrimp pellets, fish pellets, etc.
Red claw crabs need to eat about twice a day, so serve them a variety of foods and change it up occasionally to keep them interested. You wouldn’t like eating the same foods every day, and neither will they! Let the foods sink to the bottom of the tank, and your red claw crabs will love hunting about for them, scavenging on the bottom of the tank.
