Unsafe Food List

While it is true that crabs are scavengers with a wide repertoire of foods they can eat, there
are many plants and foods that just should not be fed to a crab. The foods on this list are to
be avoided. Some are toxic, some are insect repellents or used as insecticides, and some the crabs
just won't go near, such as lemon -- lemon won't hurt them, but they certainly won't eat it.

This list, like the Edible List, will be updated regularly, so be sure to check back often.

Aconite (Monk's Hood)
African violet leaves
African daisy (Osteospermum)
Alder bark
Aloe vera (interferes with potassium absorption)
Amaryllis
American Hellebore
Anemone/Windflower
Aniseed
Avocado leaves
Azalea/Rhododendron
Bay leaves (natural insect repellent)
Bindweed
Bird of Paradise Flowers
Bluebonnet
Bottlebrush flowers
Bougainvillea
Boxwood
Buckthorn
Buttercup
Carnation leaves
Castor Bean
Catnip
Cherimoya Seeds
Chocolate/cocoa
Chrysanthemum
Cinnamon
Citrus (leaves and branches to be avoided; part of the evergreen family. The fruit is fine)
Columbine
Compost (unless 100% organic)
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) (contains cyanogenic glucosides)
Crocus
Crown of Thorns
Cube Plant
Custard Apple (young fruit)
Cyclamen
Delphinium
Derris
Dieffenbachia
Dill
Dittany
Eucalyptus
European pennyroyal
Evergreen (pine, cedar, juniper, etc.)
Feverfew
Fleabane
Garlic
Geranium
Golden Pothos
Green hellebore
Hemlock
Holly Berries
Horsetail
Ivy (of any kind)
Juniper Berries
Kalanchoe
Larkspur seed
Laurel
Lavender
Lemon Balm (Sweet Melissa)
Lemon Grass
Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)
Mayweed
Mistletoe
Morning Glory
Mulberry leaves
Oleander
Onion
Oxeye daisy
Papaya seed
Parsley Seed (fruit)
Peace Lily
Pencil Tree Cactus
Peppermint
Philodendron
Pine or cedar wood or needles
Prickly juniper
Pride of China fruit
Prunus species trees (apricot, bitter almond, cherry, cherry laurel,
nectarine, peach, plum) Fleshy fruits are edible, everything else
contains a cyanide-like compound and is fatally toxic, including
seeds, wood, leaves, bark and flowers.
Red Emerald
Rosemary
Sago Palm
Sanseveria
Schefflera
Stargazer Lily (Lilium x Stargazer)
Sweet Flag
Tansy
Tea Tree
Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora)
Thornapple
Thyme
Tobacco
Vanillin
Verbena
Vinca
Wild Angelica fruit
Wormwood
Yew
Yarrow

From: The San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society
Compiled by

And other sourcesLast Updated ( Monday, 19 March 2007 )

 

I needed that.lol.

 

I had posted them in another thread but couldnt find it. So now it's a sticky!

 

What about birch leaves?

 

I think your idea is great!!!

 

Hazel nuts? I assume they're fine, but anyone know for sure???

 

Does anyone know if Tillandsia (an air plant) is safe? I had the idea to put one in the tank to make a bridge between my second level and the "climbing wall" but of course Peaches (aka Piggy!) has started chowing on it. I'm hoping someone knows if it's okay for me to keep it in there!
Thanks!

 

I am SO printing this one out and putting it up on the fridge! LOL

 

Can hermit crabs eat ham?

This ham is from applegate farms and no antibiotics were used and it's fully cooked. Thhe ingredients are: pork, water, sodium lactate, sea salt, evaporated cane juice, celery juice concentrate, lactic acid starter culture(no from milk), spic extractives. Is this okay? Also, can hermit crabs eat eco-earth?

 

it has spices and most hams are cured in salt. I'd pass on it.

 

Me too if my dumb printer would work.

 

This is a really helpful list! Thanks!

 

Whew! Good thing I checked this list! Lowes had these cute little tiny sago palms, and I almost bought one to put in the crab tank.

Nikki

 

That would be awesome. I guess well have to stick to the plastic.

 

Can crabs eat pine cones?
Like just the cone all dried out and stuff from the garden?
Coz i put one in the tank and they like climbing on it and stuff and Timone and Pumbaa, when she was alive, pulled the bits off it for fun?
Is that safe for them?

Mia!

 

It says pine or cedar wood or needles under the unsafe food list so I would assume not.

 

This list and the Safe Food List were both very helpful. . . Thank you, Vckums!!!!

 

Most of these things are plants. What about foods like peanuts for example. Also, are flowers ok to give to crabs? Do they eat the petals and stuff?

 

There's a safe food list as well as this unsafe food list - there's a ton of stuff on it, so please look at it. There are safe flowers to offer, but there are unsafe ones as well so do check before offering anything new.

 

is black pepper &/or dried habanero pepper safe?
i don't see them on either safe or unsafe list