Hermit Crabs Fighting

[marmari]

I have 2 hermit crabs...they are boldly fighting. havent fought before, just avoided each other. now here come the claws. One is bigger, so once during their fight i had to pull him off another one and feed them separately. ARE THEY GOING TO KILL EACH OTHER? HAS ANYBODY KEPT MORE THAN ONE? I am hoping that they will adapt to each other, since they have been introduced to the tank at the same time? they are both adorable, very sweet and eat from hand. i love them both. ANY ADVICE WELCOME I went to sleep and they were still fighting(claws, claws, claws!) i dont understand why the smaller guy doesnt just hide in a cave he seems to come close to the bigger one despite being beaten up continuously. it a 55 gal tank there's enough space for both they are great cleaners they clean the rock of algae very efficiently.
<img src="http://b.foto.radikal.ru/0603/6813feca8cd6.jpg">

 

[romunov]

Do they have enough properly sized shells?

 

[marmari]

I am sorry, I had no idea they needed shells. Why? They are big crabs, the size of a fist.

 

[Docbones]

As they grow they need bigger shells ...if they they do not have empty shells and see another crab that has a suitable shell...ITS THUNDERDOME...2 crabs enter 1 crab leaves...sorry just watched Mad Max

 

[Sk8r]

They fight for shells. Get a selection of shells---not the polished sort from the souvenir shop, but nasty, used shells, and try to match the kind of shell each already has: they can be picky. As long as there is a vacant shell to go to, fights do not tend to happen. I have 5 blue-legs and 4 or 5 scarlets (I forgot to count when I put them in) in the same tank and have plenty of shells: they 'discuss' and harass, but do not fight.

 

[marmari]

Where can I buy shells???

 

[Sk8r]

Talk to your local fish store: they may charge you a dollar or so for shells that large, but most fish stores have an accumulation around the bottom of tanks.