Hello Cheryl and to TR!
I have hermits in a variety of sizes in both of my tanks and have never seen this behavior. If it was my crab I would see if the LFS would take it back, maybe in exchange for a smaller crab.
Hello there,
I am new to this site, but I am hoping that someone will be able to provide me with some help, information, suggestions, anything!! So here is my issue...
I have 2 dwarf zebra hermit crabs, one about twice the size of the other. The bigger one (which is in a shell with a diameter of about 1inch) is continuously harassing the smaller hermit crab-harassing in the sense that the bigger one will find the smaller one (wherever it is in the tank) turn its shell upside down and sit on top of it preventing the smaller crab from doing anything (eating, walking around, anything). The larger one wont even move off the smaller one during feeding time (when normally the large crab will quickly scavenge any left overs it can get its claws on). At first I thought maybe the larger one wanted the smaller shell (i'm not sure why it would, but whatever) so I put a bunch of new shells in the tank, the large crab chose and new shell and quickly returned to harassing the smaller one.
Currently I am keeping the larger one quarintined from the smaller crab (in hopes that the smaller one will use this opportunity to grow up a little so he can defend himself) but the smaller one hasn't chosen any new shells. After about 2 weeks of keeping the crabs seperate from one another, I let the large one free in the tank and within 1 minute (literally) he was back to harassing the smaller one.
One thing to note, is that the larger crab hasn't harassed any of the other tank inhabitants (snails or fish).
So, I'm not sure what is going on here. Is this just normal hermit crab agression? If the larger one continues to be the agressor, will he eventually become agressive to other things in the tank (snails, fish)? Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening? Or should I just face the fact that the larger one will eventually kill the smaller one?
Any and all help is most appreciated
Hello Cheryl and to TR!
I have hermits in a variety of sizes in both of my tanks and have never seen this behavior. If it was my crab I would see if the LFS would take it back, maybe in exchange for a smaller crab.
Carmie
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Welcome Cheryl. We're glad you found us.
It's possible you've got a bully crab, certainly seems so. Talk to your LFS as Carmie suggested. They may be willing to help you out.
Dick
Amphibious
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Hi Cheryl Welcome to TR.
I agree with the above said.
Ray or Raymond
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It could possibly be attempting to reproduce, but like the others have said... I would talk to your LFS and try and see about an exchange.
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Quarantine quarantine quarantine your tank's will thank you and so will your corals u'll also avoid a lot of aggravation with pests, predators, or disease's that come on coral's or live rock or fish
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