Red Hermit Crabs mating?

[princess8077]

Has anyone seen evidence of red hermit crabs mating in thier tank? The wierdest thing ever.....2 crabs on a rock, the big one chased down a smaller one and I thought they were gonna fight over a shell! However, the big crab turned the smaller one over (opening side up, crab basically laying on it's back) The larger crab came completely out of it's shell and looked to me like it was trying to get inside the other's shell with it. They stayed like this for about 5 mins. Then the big crab got back in his own shell and they parted ways. I'm not trying to be funny really....but I was like "whoa!"

 

[dinki]

I thought one of my hermits was trying to kill one of my snails for his shells. I separated the hermit who was on top of the 'snail' and found that the 'snail' was actually another hermit. I'm not sure if they were fighting or cuddling, but it did get me interested in hermits and breeding. In the little research I did, I came across multiple pages saying that hermit crabs had not been successfully breed in captivity. I don't know if this is true or not.

 

[princess8077]

Originally Posted by dinki
I thought one of my hermits was trying to kill one of my snails for his shells. I separated the hermit who was on top of the 'snail' and found that the 'snail' was actually another hermit. I'm not sure if they were fighting or cuddling, but it did get me interested in hermits and breeding. In the little research I did, I came across multiple pages saying that hermit crabs had not been successfully breed in captivity. I don't know if this is true or not.
I've read the same thing.

 

[keri]

Most likely he was trying to steal his shell