Hermits & other things

So, I recently got back into the hobby after about 15 years off. I did not ever keep hermits or a peppermint shrimp before. I have one peppermint shrimp two red leg, one white leg and three blue leg hermits that I bought for my fairly new setup. My wife bought a small feather duster as well about a week ago.

The other day I found a carcass of a hermit that was not mine (Or at least bought by me) by where my shrimp hangs out. I was sort of confused but not overly concerned. When I got home from work tonight there is a body of a small blue leg by where shrimp hangs out. After conducting a roll call, again all my original six are accounted for.

So where are these "Mystery Crabs" coming from and what is killing them. I suspect my shrimp is on a killing spree, as the bodies are very near his hideout. The little booger also took out the feather duster when I was at work tonight. I have heard that some peppermints will attack tube worms and such, but it survived for about a week then, bam. Unfortunately I learned this little fact after my wife brought the thing home.

Anyway, are my suspicions justified, or are the bodies just a result of crab wars? I do not believe I have a mantis, but I suppose anything is possible.

My wife really wants feather dusters.... So what would all of you do with the killer peppermint shrimp? I hate to just euthanize it. It's really not his fault.

Thanks
Roger

 

RPM1

are you aware that crabs and shrimps molt - as in every so often they shed their outer skin layer in order they can grow , they literally grow out of their current skin

the molted skin they leave does look like a replica crab or shrimp and many a confused aquarist has found these and is surprised that they still have as many crabs and shrimps as they started with

Steve

 

Yes I was aware of that, but these do not look like a shrimp molt. They are not nearly as transparent as what I am used to. I did think about that after posting. I suppose that it is just not what I am used to seeing.