Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey guys i had a quick question....like most i usually feed my alligator fish,crickets,meat,etc. but just the other day I decided to try something new like smaller freshwater crabs known as fiddler crabs, so I tossed a couple in and she ate one today (completely crushed it). Now the question is, is the crab's shell to hard for her digestion system?

I have never tried it but I know young alligators eat crayfish in the wild and in captivity. I don't know if the crab's exoskeleton is much harder but I would imagine it would be alright. I think alligators would be equally adapted to eating crabs. I know when I feed crustaceans to my turtles that they tend to pass the bits of shells without much problem. Maybe its the same with gators.
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Alligators are evolved crab and turtle eaters, digesting the shell should not be difficult. It was always fun to watch people crabbing in Louisiana. Every few times they would pull up more than a crab on the line! Ever see a cajun with a five foot 'gator tethered to him?