Blue legs need new shells?

[karlaloveskrabs]

Hi... I am new to this whole thing...
Do my blue leg hermit crabs need new shells in the tank to move into... or does their little shell grow as they grow?
I know my Scarlett Reef Hermits need new shells... but the Blue-legs shells look like they grow with the crab?
Help!

 

[krishj39]

karla, they will most definitely need new shells. if you don't add new shells, they will fight each other for the shells they are in now. IME that is the most common reason a hermit crab dies, someone else killed it for it's shell. I have plenty of extra shells, but one will still decide it wants a shell that is currently occupied, meaning death or injury to the animal that lives in it.

 

[bluemarlin]

It is true. Hermits will kill to get the shell from another. They will kill snails too and I have many snails that have met their demise through the act of a jealous hermit. Most of my snails hang out on the glass now. Very few venture onto the live rock on heaven forbid the sand! I will not go as far as saying that they have learned not to tread where the hermits do but it is curious as to why these snails have moved to the glass.
I have many shells in the tank. SOme are rather big. Its really funny to see a small little hermit trying to drag this huge shell home across the sand.

 

[karlaloveskrabs]

Thank you!
I just thought since all the blues had the same color/type of shell... then they must grow with them... guess I have another reason to go to the LFS !!

 

[slothy]

ya the first 5-10 mins i threw in my spare shells, they where over there checking them out, switching them.. kinda funny to watch them do that, drop one shell jump into another, walk around come back and try another.

 

[pakman]

will hermits inhabit snail shells? even though the shells are much bigger. also? what looks like hermits legs are sitting on top of a rock i have, is that shedding or a dead hermit

 

[flobskey]

pakman, it mostlikely molted. Mine did the same and I thought it died.