Where are some of my hermits going?

[bobpiker]

Where does a hermit go when you find an empty shell and there aren't any other shells for them to upgrade to? In the past month, I've found 4 such shells from my original crew of 16. I don't believe there's anything in my tank which might eat them other than maybe an emerald crab but he'd have a hard time getting them out of their shells. Do they possibly crawl out of the shell when it gets too tight and hide in the live rock waiting for a hopeful shell?

Thanks, Bob

 

[AJSTITAN14]

The other crabs are killing them most likely.

 

[bobpiker]

Why would they kill them?

Why would they kill them?

I see them grappling with one another occasional where one is pulled in all the way and the other seems to be reaching into its shell. I've got both blue legs and scarlet hermits but haven't noticed which of the two is being the most antagonistic. Would they kill one another for food or for a larger shell? Seems odd the shell would just be left and that they would kill for food if there's enough detritus and all for them to scavenge. Would a lack of detritus inspire them then to go after one another? My sand isn't perfect and I know there's so flotsom and all on the bottom readily available that I can find if I look.

Regards,
Bob

 

[olemiss reb]

They'll eat each other or simply kill another for its shell. Always important to have a bunch of empty shells in the tank.

 

[iamwhatiam52]

It's a crab eat crab world out there!

They'll eat each other or simply kill another for its shell. Always important to have a bunch of empty shells in the tank.

+++++1 Get extra shells.
Also if one gets sick or dies the others will eat it and try on a new home. Not likely you will ever find a carcass or a dead one in the shell.

 

[bobpiker]

I'm gettin' some more shells

I'm gettin' some more shells

Well, its off to get some more hermits and a bunch of empty shells, too, just a bit bigger if possible than the hermits. I'm going to try about 5 fighting conches, too, to get the sand cleaned up as nice as possible. Any experience with these little guys?

 

[macktab]

Same problem in my nano. Just started tank and put in an equal amount of extra shells when I added my blue legs, zebras and somewhat larger scarlet. Now I see 4 extra shels - no clue of the crabs. There is a cleaner shrimp in the tank but I doubt it is him.

 

[AJSTITAN14]

I've seen crabs go straight MMA beatdown on each other and once on a snail. It's just how they do.

 

[bobpiker]

I think the problem is with the scarlet hermits

I think the problem is with the scarlet hermits

I just realized that the hermits I've had disappearing are the blue-legs. The scarlets all seem to be getting around fine. In fact, not a one I'm able to find immediately seem to have blue legs and I know at least of 3rd of them originally were blue. So, evidently, the scarlets are a bit more formidable than the blue? Blue colors tend to be a bit more passive comparatively speaking everywhere else so why not in the hermit world?

Anyone else have a similar issue?

Regards,
Bob

 

[wickedfish]

I have dozens of empty small shells haven't seen a hermit in weeks I started with 30+ added another 30+ 2 months ago i see 0, also have a cleaner shrimp he's probably snacking. Like a buddy said to me survival of the fittest, wait a minute, I'm a fatty.