electric blue hermits...hardy?...lifespan?

[ahullsb]

I had an electric blue hermit (Marshall Islands). He was big and was one of my favorite tank inhabitants. This morning he was dead. I have lost a few over the months and was wondering what their life span is supposed to be? I'm trying to make sure it is nothing I have done.

 

[rustybucket145]

sure he was dead and it wasn't just a molt? Also what was there in the tank for him to eat?

 

[ahullsb]

He not moving at all. Whats a molt? Wouldn't he react to being touched?

 

[Ti]

it shoudl react to being touched

 

[ahullsb]

He was out of his shell this morning not moving. Even when I poked at him. Do they molt like shrimp?

 

[ahullsb]

I dump mysis into the tank every few days. There is a healthy pod population for them. What else should I be feeding them?

 

[leshampton]

Yes, crabs molt like shrimp. The molt looks just like the crab pretty much, minus the shell. I thought my hermits were dying too when I found a couple of molts, but they were all still there.

 

[jer77]

If it was out of his shell he probably was looking for a bigger shell, especially if he is a big one and growing.

 

[paradicio]

My electric blue hermit killed and ate all of my astraea snails.

Back on topic... Sounds like a molt to me. Have you found him?

 

[UnderCoverDork]

my blue hermits stole 4 shells from my mexican snails

 

[ahullsb]

Yes I pulled him out. He was dead. Strangely enough my smaller hermit took his shell within hours. So it looks about the same in there. I still can't figure out why I lost him. Anyone know there lifespan or how large they grow to be?

 

[juniormc8704]

keep an eye on that guy, i had a red hermit, who grew to a giant size, and i physically watched him kill one of my clownfish. weirdest thing i ever saw. im not saying that is common, or thats its going to happene to you, but just be aware.

 

[sunfish11]

They only live 2-3 year so if he died it could have simply been old age and not anything that you did wrong. He may reappear though. Molts look surprisingly like a dead hermit. The hermit leaves his shell and hides in the rocks until his new exoskeleton hardens up enough and then he comes out to look for a new shell. You should make sure that you have plenty of extra shells of varying sizes in your tank. If he can't find a suitable shell after he molts he will not make it. It is completely natural for you other on to steal his room-mates shell. I have seen hermits 'try on' multiple shells trying to find just the right one.

Lisa

 

[tedmc2]

I've had one for about 3 years. Still seems to be going strong. He's fairly large. In a shell about the size of a ping-pong ball. It molts periodically. The molt looks the same as the crab only very soft and breaks apart easily.

I've never observed hermit crabs leaving their shell after molting. Mine seem to crawl onto a coral, or other quite spot, for a couple days before getting back to their normal routine.

 

[rustybucket145]

Yup, make sure you have other shells... Also hermits feed off of algae as well as meat. So if your tank isn't producing any algae to speak of (or the wrong type) you need to supplement them with some nori or brocolli or other type of seaweed every once in a while. They are omnivorous (sp) and feeding them only mysis would be comparable to a human only eating shrimp for every meal, everyday..... doesn't sound to appetizing or healthy to me....... can you say Deficiency? I hope so, cause it sure doesn't look like I can spell it..

 

[ahullsb]

Thanks for the info. That helps a lot. I do have a bunch of shells in there and I will vary their diet more now.

 

[USC-fan]

i feed mine shrimp pellets. Had him for about a year and a half.