Common Name: Maple

Scientific Name: Acer

Rating: Presumed Safe

Food Groups: Cellulose, Color Enhancing

Description:

Preparation/Storage:

Citation:

Campbell, Kerie. Edible Food List. Epicurean Hermit. 30 May 2008.

Kilimanjaro. Harvestables, Hermit Crab Central.

Except where otherwise noted, this content is
licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Common Name: Oak Tree

Scientific Name: Quercus (there are many varieties of oak; some include: Q. robur, Q. alba, Q. lanata, and Q. grisea).

Rating: All varieties and parts of oak are presumed safe.

Food Groups: Cellulose, Color Enhancing

Description: The oak tree is a common tree found all over the North American continent. The oak tree is made up of a large trunk with many branches extending from the base. The branches hold many green leaves that are crab-edible. Oak trees have spirally arranged leaves, with a lobed margin in most varieties. Oak leaves are usually alternate in five rows. The trunk and bark of the oak tree are also eaten by hermit crabs. The bark is usually a light brown, but can also be shades of dark brown or gray. Oak bark is rarely papery and thin on the trunk and is usually full of crevices and ridges. Oak bark (along with the leaf) is a great source of tannin, which is a nutrient that increases coloration and aids in keeping the body systems healthy. The nut of the oak tree, also called the acorn, is crab edible, too. The acorn is usually small in size and brown, with a darker cap made of tiny, overlapping scales. Acorns can be found on oak trees that are twenty years and older. Acorns can be harvested in the fall when they are ripened.

Preparation/Storage: Oak bark, leaves, and acorn are normally harvested from the tree and served before they dry. Leaves (vulnerable to drying) can be stored in a storage container with a little dechlorinated water for up to one week. Acorns are crushed before placed in the crabitat. All parts of the oak can be dried for later consumption and stored indefinitely (although some vitamin decomposition may occur over time).

Citation:
1. Arenella, Stacy and Summer Michaelson. The All Natural Hermit Crab Source Book. CafePress, 2004.

2. Kerie’s List:
Campbell, Kerie. Edible Food List. Epicurean Hermit. 30 May 2008.

3. Kilimanjaro. Harvestables, Hermit Crab Central.