Hermit Crab shell stealing?

Discussion in 'Inverts' started by Noah, Aug 14, 2009.

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  1. Noah

    Noah Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2008
    Messages:
    63
    I have an orange legged hermit that i've had for a while now. I moved him over to my newer tank from my older one.

    I added three more hermits - two blue legged and one red legged.

    Soon after I added the new ones, one of the blue legged ones died, I thought it just shed it's exoskeleton but it's dead.

    Today I just noticed that the orange legged hermit is now in the red legged hermit's shell...leads me to belive it's killing off my hermits, and has stolen the shell of the red legged one.

    Can't see the reg legged one anywhere...

    Do hermits become agressive to one another and kill each other off?
     
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  3. swagger87

    swagger87 Zoanthid

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,134
    Location:
    Taylor, Mi
    If they like the shell enough they will kill snails, so I don't see why it wouldn't kill off smaller crabs for their shells
     
  4. invert phil

    invert phil Millepora

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2009
    Messages:
    916
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, England, Europe, Earth, Milkyway,
    Yes they will, you need to provide a selection of shells to help prevent this