Arrow Crab eating Blue Leg Hermit

[clsimons29]

I have noticed a the demise of a few of my blue leg hermit crabs seeing there backs eaten and just claws and face left. Today I noticed my Arrow crab eating the back end of one of my hermit crabs.
I researched the arrow crab before putting him in my tank and read nothing about them eating other crabs???? Is it more likely that this crab died and the arrow crab is cleaing up or is it possible that the arrow crab is aggresivly killing the crabs and eating them. Tank is fed adequatley for him not to attack because of starvation. :help:

 

[emmitt2]

Never heard of that before. Is it possible that the arrow is just eating the hermits molts? Are you sure they were hermits and not just their molts?

 

[clsimons29]

I don't know for sure but aren't most molts fairly transparent? It definetly does not look like a molt has the full color of the crabs legs etc. and he only eats the back ends. I never read that they would eat a another crab so I am wondering if it is more likely the crab died and he is cleaning up?????

 

[miaheatlvr]

ARROW CRABS HAVE been known to catch and eat HERMIES and TURBOS!!

 

[mudplayerx]

I am almost positive that you are seeing molts. Molts typically look identical to a dead crab, with a translucent rear (what you may be mistaking as an eaten portion).
That being said, arrow crabs are not reef safe and will eat anything that they can catch provided they are hungry.

 

[petjunkie]

I had an arrow crab for a while. First day in the tank we watched him grab the $3.50 scarlet hermit and eat it. I only ordered three scarlet to begin with and twenty blueleg but apparently he had expensive taste. He was cool though, I'd get another someday if I have a tank suitable.

 

[my way]

While doing research on eradicating flatworms I came across Arrow Crabs, much of the info I found said they also like to eat snails, hermits and small fish.

 

[dina12]

While I love my Arrow Crab - she does the same thing. I have watched her grab the blue crabs - rip them out of the shells, and chow. She is good at stealing the food from my amenomes too. I am thisclose to getting rid of her. She is really fun to watch and lays eggs all the time - but she does have an expensive appitite.