hermit crabs being killed

[bobmakespancakes]

Hi, my hermit crab is missing its entire lower half and one of the shells is broken now (like chipped away) i have seen this before in my dead hermit crabs but this crab is moving around without its lower half I can literally see inside my crab now. i found it because my clownfish were playing with it in the water. thinking about it now i have found lots of shells with holes in the same place. i have snails an emerald crab other hermit crabs a couple of micro brittle starfish and a peppermint shrimp. there could be things that stay in the rocks that i don't know about but other then that what could be causing this? i have heard that hermit crabs will attack other hermit crabs but i am not sure if they can break shells.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Sounds like you might have a mantis shrimp in the tank. Any pics of the broken shells?

 

[bobmakespancakes]

Sounds like you might have a mantis shrimp in the tank. Any pics of the broken shells?

yeah i can get you one now

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Where did you get your live rocks? Typical hermit crabs cannot break each others shells

 

[bobmakespancakes]

Sounds like you might have a mantis shrimp in the tank. Any pics of the broken shells?

 

[bobmakespancakes]

Where did you get your live rocks? Typical hermit crabs cannot break each others shells

i only had 2 rocks that didn't dry out by the time i got home with them and they were 3 inch long and no height and the other had no holes i got one very large rock but it dried out

 

[xxkenny90xx]

i only had 2 rocks that didn't dry out by the time i got home with them and they were 3 inch long and no height and the other had no holes i got one very large rock but it dried out

You'd be surprised how long some critters can survive out of the water. Where did the rocks come from?

 

[bobmakespancakes]

You'd be surprised how long some critters can survive out of the water. Where did the rocks come from?

RMS and aquatica

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Ever hear any clicks? Got a pic of the injured crab?

 

[bobmakespancakes]

Ever hear any clicks? Got a pic of the injured crab?

i have never heard any clicks and i can't take a picture of the crab because it ran straight into the rocks

 

[bobmakespancakes]

i am also seeing these white tube things appear (i dont know if they have anything to do with this at all i dont even know what they are)

 

[Sharkbait19]

Yeah, I can only imagine you have a mantis! Cool! (I mean, not for the crabs....but cool)

 

[Cole.mormon]

Cool. I would tear apart the rocks and look for it but be careful

 

[pbrown]

Years ago I had a mantis, must have come in on my rock as an egg. A year into my tank I would hear a pop and then I would be missing a fish. You will definitely hear a pop when they kill. They are beautiful but can cause you harm. Be careful. We pulled out each rock until the pop came from the test bucket. Then we removed the rock. I lost a lot of fish in the process. I am not sure what the white tubes are? My mantis never left holes- he was more of a blaster crusher....we would find crushed aspects... not perfect holes. Maybe you have a different pest.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

It looks like the holes a spear mantis will make. Idk what the other kind is called but they are most crushers than anything. A spear mantis shoots a spear basically into its prey. Pretty sure that’s what you’ve got is a small one hiding in your rocks somewhere.

edit: I don’t think spear mantis make that clock noise when they fire but I’m not sure

 

[Damon Jensen]

Best thing ever, search for true facts mantis shrimp video....freaking hilarious and educational.

Not sure fish wise what you have, but there are a number of fish that can crack the shell.....my CC are appetizers for my triggers and puffs.

I had a crsher type mantis, really cool, had to tank it alone. Definitely could beating the crabs....listen for the click

The tube for me look like a Super tongan nassarius snail.....very good CC. look them up on liveaquaria.