staghorn hermit crabs

[sjfishguy]

I saw these things for the first time in real life at my LFS the other day. Does anyone have any experience with them? What do they eat? The "shell" really looks like a peice of coral, I think it is a peice of coral, but I don't understand what happens when the hermit crab needs a bigger "shell?" Is the coral growing around the hermit? How does the hermit start this coral growing this way? Will I buy this crab in a really cool coral "shell" and then have him just change into a boring shell when he gets bigger? I am confused. Thanks.

 

[danmhippo]

Past threads about them: http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p ... orn#130528

 

[wally311]

FWIW, a LFS got one in a while back and on the next day, it changed shells! :?

-Troy

 

[sjfishguy]

Thanks for this. Doesn't look like I will be investing in one of these things anytime soon.

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
The coral is a hydrozoan, not a true SPS.