Blueleg Hermit Crabs......reproducing?

[traysea]

Is it possible for Blueleg Hermits to reproduce???
I bought 20 of the little guys about 3 months ago. Since then alot of them have changed shells several times. There are some pretty big shells being used. Then I noticed there are some hermits using little shells, smaller than what the Hermits were in when I brought them home.
I'm sure all the Hermits were the same size when I brought them home.
Thanks,
Tracy
traysea@earthlink.net

 

[ivanfj]

Hm..Maybe a stupid question here but do hermit crabs born with the shell or they were born just like any other crab and then migrate into a shell??

 

[traysea]

I don't know how they are born, but I have seen them change shells.
I know nothing about these little critters!!!
Tracy

 

[dreeves]

They are not born with shells...they acquire them.
As for breeding...that is a good question. I havent added any hermits for a good 6 months and just yesterday I noticed a few really tiny ones.

 

[jibbittyflibbit]

since im going to be getting some hermits shortly, anyone know where i can get some extra shells? i dont want them killing each other
regards,
jib

 

[teetee]

The exact same thing is happening in my reef, except with red legged South American hemits. I can't figure out if they are reproducing or not. There is such a discrepency in size now. The larger ones are about 6X larger than the smaller ones (they were all the same size when purchased.). Could it be a question of gender. One --- being way bigger than the other, or could they actually be reproducing. I too would like to know.

 

[ekclark]

jib--
I bought the 50 shells off this site to try and keep my blue legs from killing each other and the snails...it didn't work. I may have helped a little, maybe, but they still like to kill each other and my snails.
I think hermits go through a plantonic (horrible spelling) stage so I doubt they are reproducing successfully in a tank...they do seem to grow at very different rates, maybe depending on the shells they find. Hope I am not way off here, but hth!

 

[jibbittyflibbit]

bummer... i wasnt aware this site sold just shells..
anyway, i guess what it comes down to, is would you rather have snails or hermits ?
regards,
jib

 

[phoenixrising]

This site sells an extraordinary selection of livestock and dry goods. Shells are just one of the many items SWF has available. Click on any of the topics you see to your left to review the available merchandise. Happy shopping!

 

[traysea]

When I needed extra shells this site was "sold out".
My LFS had a huge bag (2 lb) of mixed shells.
It was full of all sizes and shapes, they have done great with the shells.
You may want to give your LFS a look.
Tracy