Hermit crabs, feed or not to feed?

[Hiachi20]

I have 6 hermits and a porcelain in my cycling tank. Lots of diatoms growing and there has been food in there to decompose. I'm afraid to put food in because of the ammonia (look at my other post for info on cycle, I need help lol) so should I put food in or let them find bits of whatever it is they seem to find to eat? Will they starve? What about ammonia and nitrite poisoning for hermits? They seem to not care...for now. One of the hermits has seemed to find a new shell which I didn't know what even in there smh... Thanks!

 

[Brew12]

They don't need much food, but they do need some. I wouldn't have high hopes for the porcelain crab surviving. They do much better in established tanks. About the only way to feed them in a new tank is to spot feed them with phytoplankton multiple times a day.

 

[Tahoe61]

I would feed them especially in a new tank. A pinch of flakes or pellets directed towards the bottom.

 

[Hiachi20]

I would feed them especially in a new tank. A pinch of flakes or pellets directed towards the bottom.

I've been giving them some shrimp pellets to find. They seem to love them

 

[Tahoe61]

Yeah Hermits and Crabs get more homicidal then usual if they are not fed.