hermit too big for peacock?

[catdoc]

I've got a "dwarf" zebra hermit in my reef that is out of control. He's gotten huge and now lives in a big turbo snail shell (probably killed the snail, I'm sure). He's so big, he's knocking things over, killing off other inverts, and is harassing the actual "dwarf" hermits. I'm tempted to offer him to my peacock but at the same time, I don't know how big of a hermit she can handle. She's 3 to 3 1/2 inches long, fwiw. I don't want to risk her getting hurt if he's too big but I'm wanting to get this big hermit moved.

Ideas?

 

[moggyhill]

should be a great fight, maybe you should look at getting it on pay per view:hammer:

 

[dc]

I would bet on the mantis myself! If she can't kill it yet, she will be smart enough to stay away from it until she can. Do you have a sump to throw it in for awhile?

 

[rwhhunt]

I agree, you should definately have a Gladiator Hermit Battle Royale. My money is on the peacock. Mine kicks the $hit out of crawfish much larger than himself!

 

[catdoc]

Well, he didn't last long in there with her! I watched for a while b/c I wanted to intercede if the hermit was too big. I shouldn't have worried, she proved her strength pretty quickly. One thing that surprised me was that she unarmed him first. I left after I realized she could hold her own, came back to see she had removed his larger claw right off. Eewww, that was enough for me! I usually feed her shrimp pellets or krill, I'm not much for watching "arena feedings".

Maybe I'm imagining things, but I think she's strutting today! Yesterday, I kept thinking of DM and Tim: "it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye", glad to report that my mantis still has two eyes!

 

[Absint Reefer]

don't like to watch the fight that's the best part

 

[Gonodactylus]

Many gonodactylid smashers when fighting crabs aim specifically at the chela and try to knock them off first. We don't know if this behavior is learned or instinctive, but prey-handling behavior would make a great dissertation topic.

Roy

 

[rwhhunt]

My peacock always strategically knocks the gladiator Crawfis's claws off, and takes them back to his den for some succulent crab claws & hot butter, then once he's finished the appetizer, he strolls back over to his defenseless opponent, and seals the deal by dragging him back to his lair to suck his goey insides out... its quite interesting... I dont do it too often because I am not sure what kind of nutritous quality FW crawfish contain... Has anyone trid to gut pack those??? If cyclopeeze is too small for crawfish, maybe squid, krill or clams??....

 

[Absint Reefer]

crayfish will eat anything