The Hermit crabs are getting smarter ?!

[Magellan]

It’s hour 26 and this is still continuing. What you’re seeing is the largest hermit crab (the alpha, if you will) with a small hermit victim getting held against the opening to his shell. He has periodically done this in the past, but will always give up really quickly because it’s pointless. He needs to eat, after all. But this time is different. It’s 1:30am and he has been doing this since yesterday evening. He’s drug this poor thing all around the tank. Even dropped it off the rock to get back down to the front. He’s decided to starve it out, and has fully committed...what’s interesting is that the second largest crab (the omega) has been following/hanging on to the other side! They are working together. The little guy is doomed.

 

[Katrina71]

Give your crabs 3-4 extra shells each. They like to change frequently. It has to do with growth and molting. This should minimize or eliminate the crabiside.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Save the poor little guy! LOL

 

[Magellan]

There’s so many extra shells in the tank for them, they have what I like to call the garage area. I’ve noticed the smaller ones will change a lot, but the larger ones not so much. The 2 aggressive ones definitely aren’t looking to climb into the small shell, and the small one has lots of options. This behavior is new (been watching these little monsters since my tank was cycled, almost 10 months now).

I would add that as far as I know, I haven’t had a hermit death from either natural causes or otherwise. Maybe I should take the larger one back to the store? Except he’s most useful as his shell is way too big for him and dragging it around the sand is kinda the point.

 

[Magellan]

Save the poor little guy! LOL

you really think I should? It seems like a sink or swim moment for him lol (but if it’s still going on tomorrow I’m breaking it up, they all need to get back to work!)

 

[flsalty]

Sounds like breeding behavior to me. Are they the same species? The males drags the female around. Other males may try to steal her away.

 

[Neeks]

I dont think so, not mine at least.

 

[Magellan]

Sounds like breeding behavior to me. Are they the same species? The males drags the female around. Other males may try to steal her away.

they are all blue legged hermit crabs. One is significantly larger than the rest though, would that make it female or male?

 

[Magellan]

Update: this morning all was back to normal, the little guy made it !

 

[NotFishyFishGuy]

Update: this morning all was back to normal, the little guy made it !

Yay i was rooting for him lol

 

[flsalty]

they are all blue legged hermit crabs. One is significantly larger than the rest though, would that make it female or male?

Males are larger.

 

[Magellan]

Sounds like breeding behavior to me. Are they the same species? The males drags the female around. Other males may try to steal her away.

so that seems the most likely scenario, I can’t imagine a hermit crab having that sort of attention span/focus for anything else. Should I expect hermit babies, or will they just be snacks for my 6 line wrasse?

 

[Magellan]

Yay i was rooting for him lol

apparently he might actually be a “her” lol, and the only question left is just exactly what sort of felony assault I was witnessing!

 

[Phycodurus]

+ 1 on potential breeding behavior.


i can’t take all this intense survival of the fittest drama under the sea! my nerves are wracked! (o__0)’

jacques cousteau must have had nerves of steel! (>__<)’

 

[flsalty]

so that seems the most likely scenario, I can’t imagine a hermit crab having that sort of attention span/focus for anything else. Should I expect hermit babies, or will they just be snacks for my 6 line wrasse?

Most likely snacks. If you have some teeny tiny shells in the sand some might survive if they make it there in time.

 

[Magellan]

+ 1 on potential breeding behavior.


i can’t take all this intense survival of the fittest drama under the sea! my nerves are wracked! (o__0)’

jacques cousteau must have had nerves of steel! (>__<)’

He was a man after Captain Nemo’s own heart!

 

[Magellan]

Most likely snacks. If you have some teeny tiny shells in the sand some might survive if they make it there in time.

what will I look for? (to know that hermit babies are on their way)

 

[Stang67]

Crab lives matter