FIGHTING HERMITS WILL THEY KILL EACH OTHER...

rkm

rkm

Member
I just checked my tank and I have around 12 blue hermits. well I think soon to be 11. One crab is on top of the other. I looks like he is trying to pull the other out of its shell. I did notice the crab that is on top has a small hole in his shell and I can see little fingers running across it rapidly. Should I seperate them or is something else going on. <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" />
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
What you are witnessing is what we call "The Shell Wars". This hermit is obviously in need of a new home,and WILL kill one of his friends to get one..The best way to avoid this is to supply him with a new home...AN EMPTY SHELL..You should have a few empties laying in your tank at all times for them to move into as they outgrow thier old ones...
 
hunterdaddy

hunterdaddy

Member
I have more than a few times seen larger hermits trying to pull smaller ones out of shells that I am sure they wouldnt fit in. They are just agressive creatures and when you cage animals that are agressive, they tend to fight. Dont worry too much about it. Hermits are cheap and I also found that putting a full piece of shrimp in once a week for them top feed off of for an hour or so then removing the remainder helps to stop the fighting. Dont leave the shrimp in there forever. Just an hour or so to feed the hermits.
 
rkm

rkm

Member
That is one of the coolest things I think I have seen in my tank yet <img src="graemlins//mischievous.gif" border="0" alt="[Mischievous]" /> I just a few minutes ago. Was able to see. This hermit pull the other one out of the shell. I see why they need a shell. If I was that ugly I would want to hide myself too :D The puller seems to be sizeing up his new repo. and the other doesn't quite seem to take things for the way they are. He is trying new shells on as we speak. He is on his second or third rite now. I have a new banded shrimp near by. Hope my hermit finds some protection before the shrimp see it.
This new banded shrimp was tasting a quite expensive hermit a few howers ago. I can only hope the hermit was dead before he got to it. The hermit was a scarlet. That was about a $4 meal.
 
cap'n pete

cap'n pete

Member
Hermits are generally docile until they get hungry or need new shells. The key is to keep plenty of empty shells in the tank and make sure they are getting enough food. I've seen a hungry blue legged grab a percula clown around by its lip (until I wacked it with a net). Don't overpopulate your tank with hermits, they will just get hungry and mean. I suggest one crab per 5 gallons.
 
S

sinner's girl

Guest
"If I was that ugly I would want to hide myself too" LOL!
it can be fun to watch a hermit try to walk around in a shell that's too big for him. oh and if they don't have an extra shell...they might steal a snail's shell...lots of extras of all sizes (some little ones too in case they reproduce)
 
j21kickster

j21kickster

Active Member
btw i had a coral banded shrimp and he ate 4 of my hermits as they were looking for new shells-I saw the whole thing that

[hr]
! but seriously expect to loose a few with the banded shrimp in there. They are cool looking but i also had some pepermint shrimp and he bullied them so i sold him and things have been cool since
 
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