SeeCrabRun
New member
I just walked in on my 2 hermits doing something very strange.
Crab 1 was outside of his shell, completely exposed. Crab 2 was checking out the shell C1 used to inhabit. Then I realized C1 was clinging on to the back of C2's shell and patiently waiting for C2 to finish whatever s/he was doing so that C1 could then enter into C2's shell once C2 moved into the one s/he was examining.
This went on about 5 minutes that I was sitting and actively watching, who knows what happened before that. Now C1 is eating like crazy and C2 is off looking at different shells. They are avoiding each other like the plague and turn around when they get eye's sight of the other.
This morning I thought C1 was dead, but it turns out s/he molted instead... the old exo was very heavy and the shell appeared empty so I was very sad until C1 peeped out suddenly.
I'm kind of worried about them. It is extremely odd for a hermit to be out of the shell, especially for that long, and not moving quickly to safety.
They neither show signs of injury that I can spot through the glass, but I wonder were they fighting? Or could they have been mating, which I know basically does NOT happen in captivity, but it was such an odd thing to watch!
I took pictures and videos and will post if needed. Even the damselfish was hovering them watching like it was a show to be seen!
Crab 1 was outside of his shell, completely exposed. Crab 2 was checking out the shell C1 used to inhabit. Then I realized C1 was clinging on to the back of C2's shell and patiently waiting for C2 to finish whatever s/he was doing so that C1 could then enter into C2's shell once C2 moved into the one s/he was examining.
This went on about 5 minutes that I was sitting and actively watching, who knows what happened before that. Now C1 is eating like crazy and C2 is off looking at different shells. They are avoiding each other like the plague and turn around when they get eye's sight of the other.
This morning I thought C1 was dead, but it turns out s/he molted instead... the old exo was very heavy and the shell appeared empty so I was very sad until C1 peeped out suddenly.
I'm kind of worried about them. It is extremely odd for a hermit to be out of the shell, especially for that long, and not moving quickly to safety.
They neither show signs of injury that I can spot through the glass, but I wonder were they fighting? Or could they have been mating, which I know basically does NOT happen in captivity, but it was such an odd thing to watch!
I took pictures and videos and will post if needed. Even the damselfish was hovering them watching like it was a show to be seen!
