Hermit Crab Shell Question

[johnvic]

I know that hermit crabs will kill snails to take their shells, but will hermits kill other for their shells?

 

[jhale]

kill other hermits? no , but they will fight and pull each other out of their shells.
that's why it's a good idea to have more shells than hermits in the tank.

 

[SevTT]

I know that hermit crabs will kill snails to take their shells, but will hermits kill other for their shells?

Yep. So if you're gonna keep hermits, put a good range of extra shells in the tank, and expect to see a little body half-eaten on the sand every once in a while anyway.

 

[johnvic]

Thanks!

 

[basiab]

All crabs are opportunists.

 

[2slo4me]

my monster hermits kept fighting to get the next ones shell.... even after i put extra shells they kept fighting so i got rid of one. and yes i have seen hermits, fight clip each others legs off just to get in the shell.

 

[Dre]

If they eat they grow and if they grow they need a bigger sh...!

 

[klarion]

Yep. So if you're gonna keep hermits, put a good range of extra shells in the tank, and expect to see a little body half-eaten on the sand every once in a while anyway.

+1

I have plenty of shells about the tank, but I did see one hermit tear another out of his shell limb by limb. In the end, I have 4 or 5 left - all about the same size.