Hermit and Urchin info

Tbird165 · Jul 2, 2015

Any one ever have a problem with a hermit crab and an Urchin fighting? I looked in my tank to find my Urchin had the hermit crab rolled over on its shell on top of it . I got them apart then the hermit crab charged the Urchin and started try to break the urchins spikes. Is this normal?

trio91 · Jul 2, 2015

i am a big urchin fan...currently i have a long spine, black urchin i the tank and have had other varieties in the past who have co-existed with hermit crabs (i have about 6 blue leg hermits with the urchin). what i can say is that in my experience with them, i have viewed urchins as harmless, mindless eating machines that have a tendency to "steam-roll" over anything in its path. with that said, the urchin may have picked up something on its spine (like food) that the hermit crab is after. but i don't know.....is the urchin losing it's spines? the crab could be stressing it out which could cause that.

Tbird165 · Jul 2, 2015

The 2 are usually in different tanks but I had moved the hermit to do some cleaning in the tank with the Urchin. I'll just have to remember keep them in different tanks

trio91 · Jul 2, 2015

good luck bud

e-man5252 · Jul 2, 2015

I have a Black Sea urchin and a pink sea urchin.The sea urchins always get their little tentacles on the hermit crabs shells.The hermit crabs end up getting away

e-man5252 · Jul 2, 2015

I have more aggression with hermit crabs and hermit crabs than hermit crabs and sea urchins.And don't worry if the sea urchin gets a spike broken off.Mines always gets his broken on the rock and they just grow back.I have had him for half a year so it can't be bad if the spikes fall off.

Tbird165 · Jul 2, 2015

I think the Urchin did have a broken spike. But it looked like the Urchin attack the hermit crab first lol it was an epic battle lol

e-man5252 · Jul 2, 2015

My hermit crabs get completely ran over my my sea urchins.They never die from it though.

e-man5252 · Jul 2, 2015

My hermit crabs have to run in place because the sea urchins tentacles are stuck on his shell.They get loose after a few seconds though and just run away and don't even try to fight back.

Tbird165 · Jul 2, 2015

I broken them apart and the hermit ran back for another round

Tbird165 · Jul 2, 2015

trio91 · Jul 2, 2015

its true...i tend to have to glue everything down in the tank with my urchin....but like e-man said...wouldn't worry too much....in any case hope all works out

trio91 · Jul 2, 2015

Tbird165 said:

that's a huge hermit...how big is the tank?

Tbird165 · Jul 2, 2015

In that pic it's my son's 10 gallon but I keep the hermit in a 30 gallon

trio91 · Jul 2, 2015

ok...the 30 maybe too small as well depending on what else you have stocked in the tank (IMO) but yea i think separating the 2 would be the best route....now seeing this id be more concerned about the crab hurting the urchin...that thing is freakishly large

Tbird165 · Jul 2, 2015

In the 30 I just have 2 yellow tail damselfish with the hermit

barbarag · Jul 3, 2015

Speeking of urchins moving frags in tank, my daughters urchin keep putting frags on its back somehow and son in law was getting upset with it . He posted a picture on facebook was too funny.

e-man5252 · Jul 3, 2015

I only have small hermit crabs and that might be why they don't fight the sea urchin.They might be too small to take him on but that one is huge.He might fight the sea urchin because he is so big.