Blue Leg Hermit Crab Mating?

[bidny]

I have one large blue leg hermit crab in my tank that is going around grabbing smaller blue leg hermit crabs. It appears to be pulling the smaller hermit crabs' shells into its own shell.

At first, I tried to pull the two crabs apart, thinking that the big crab was eating the much smaller crabs. There was a lot of resistance doing this, as if they didn't want to be pulled apart.

Then I started wondering if the crabs were actually mating.

Does anyone have any insight into this behavior? I want to know if I need to banish this crab to my refugium.

 

[J. Montgomery]

I've had my hermit crabs exhibit the same behavior. I also assumed that it was a mating behavior.

 

[bidny]

Thanks, Josh. Glad to hear that someone else has seen this. Makes me feel a bit better. I'm still curious if anyone knows the real answer.

 

[appleepiee]

Same with my crabs, would love to know.

 

[elliot arturo]

The blue legs crabs are reef safe?