my magic hermit crab...

[3fins]

Hi guys, i have Q. I have this hermit crab.....

http://reefscavengers.com/invertimages/thinstripe.jpg

and several times i see a dead crab on the sand, but a new one is inside the shell. Its like a magic hat that rabbits keep coming out of. And they cant be maiting i only have 1
how is this possible?
thanks

 

[greenbean36191]

You're seeing molted exoskeletons, not dead crabs. Crabs and other arthropods wear their skeletons on the outside, so they have to shed them to grow.

On a side note, that species of hermit is extremely aggressive and gets huge, so hopefully that's not the one you have.

 

[lowincwrx]

Greenbean, are they always aggressive? i have one that doesn't bother anything he will crawl over my turbos and nassarius snails but never bothers them. he's great for sand movement and cleans up any extra food in the tank.

 

[3fins]

yes i have that one, but it hasnt been aggressive .....yet but thanks for the info guys

 

[greenbean36191]

It's only a matter of time (and size) before they get aggressive. I've had small ones that weren't a problem. They won't stay small for long though. Eventually they get to be a bit bigger than golf balls and there's not much they won't eat once they start getting big enough.