Shell less Hermit?

[OrangeKoi]

Does anyone have experience with peppermint shrimp pulling hermit crabs out of their shell?

I saw one of my larger hermit crabs in the clutches of a large pregnant pepermint shrimp this morning. I know that particular crab was in a round shell and had been trying on shells but it seemed to be happy with the one it had.

It is a new tank, started 2 April. I have never had peppermint shrimp before. So I'm not too familiar with thier ferocity. I had had a cleaner shrimp that never bothered my hermits. I'd had that little hermit for a year. (Yes, it had a name.)

I've been watching the hermits to be sure they are safe. I expected to see some huge mantis smashing into them. Instead, it's a peppermint crab...I fed the tank after I saw that. I didn't intend to starve them. It's just that the nitrates are still there. Of course, that might be from the dead hermit crab too.

Should I start feeding a little bit every night? The emerald crab and the hermits went crazy over the algea wafers. I think I'll have to take the snail out. He is not moving.

 

[Shagsbeard]

I've occasionally seen a hermit out of its shell, so it's not really fair to blame your shrimp for it. Also, it might just be a molt you see the shimp picking at.

 

[Sk8r]

Peps are known for doing wild and crazy pranks that they never repeat more than a couple of times. Had one grab two polyps off a pocillopora, never did it again. Bothered the xenia once, never again. Can't predict what they'll do, but it's rarely long-lasting.

 

[Jojoyojimbi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9786265#post9786265 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r
Peps are known for doing wild and crazy pranks that they never repeat more than a couple of times. Had one grab two polyps off a pocillopora, never did it again. Bothered the xenia once, never again. Can't predict what they'll do, but it's rarely long-lasting.

guess they have short attention spans

 

[Fast Eddie H]

I agree that it is likely a molt that your shrimp has gotten a hold of. Especially if the crab had been trying on shells earlier.

 

[laserjim]

I watched my skunk shimp pull a small blue legged hermit out of his shell .

 

[nerisa]

my shrimp got ahold of one of my hermits a week or so ago as it was doing a shell change. since the shrimp crabs, and snails are the only thing in the tank (aside form shrooms and zoos) i hadn't been feeding much at all. i figured he just got really hungry.

my larger hermits are still alive and i haven't lost another yet... hopefully it was a one time thing.

 

[OrangeKoi]

I'll tell you what, those hermits skins don't have fleshy parts. There was a definite hermit body in this one.

Thanks for all the words. It feels better knowing I'm not the only one with "hungry" shrimps. I guess I'd better start moving the rest of the 5.5 into the tank so I can feel comfortable about feeding.

I just wish the nitrates would go away.

 

[lfduty]

Molt you see the shimp picking at.

 

[OrangeKoi]

No. It was no molt. It was the hermit.