Hermit crab growth reflected on shell availability.

[CaptiveReef]

I purchased 5 hermits, about 2 months ago, they were small and they had tiny shells. In my tank I have different size empty turbo snail shells, it seems that providing the snails with new larger shells really has an impact on their growth cycle.
All 5 hermits have tripled in size, and I have a pic of one just before he moved into his new larger home.
I'm going to try to find some real small shells to see if it will put them in the breeding mood.

CaptiveReef

 

[racrumrine]

I don't think having a bunch of baby shells will impact breeding. I once saw one of my blue legs trying out a new shell. To my surprise, it had black eggs all over it's back. Never found a baby out of it. I'm pretty sure hermits will go through a zooplankton stage.

Best of luck,

Roy

 

[jsrtist]

Both marine and land hermit crabs are very difficult to breed successfully in captivity due to their extended larval stage. Last year one of my land hermits bred and laid eggs in captivity, which later hatched. I've kept land hermits for almost 20 years and as far as I know, that is the only recorded instance of them breeding in a private home tank!

I am hoping with continued research that someday we can captive raise hermits like some of the other creatures we are now able to.