Reef Discussion

[Dynamic]

Hi guys,

I have two hermit crabs in my tank. Just now, the bigger one had grabbed hold of the smaller one. I thought they were fighting to I separated them.

As soon as I put them down (about 100mm away from eachother), the smaller one ran towards the big one. The big one grabbed hold, and the little one went into it's shell. The bigger one sounded like he was "punching" the smaller one for a few seconds. Now he is just holding it.

Are they fighting or mating?

 

[Dynamic]

dr_schell help :D

 

[Dr. Schell]

sounds like mating. They will mate just after the female sheds her shel. The femail will stay near the male until she sheds, the male will inseminate her and then guard her untill her shell hardens.

 

[Dynamic]

Awesome!

I checked them this morning and they were apart doing their own thing. So what do I do with the little baby hermit crabs?

Thanks a lot for the answer too dude!

 

[Dr. Schell]

they fry are increadibly hard to rais. They will most probably become fish/coral food

 

[Dynamic]

Damn, that sucks. Thanks for the reply dude!

 

[Agent M]

Have you provided them with various size shells that have slightly larger openings than the ones they are currently in? They do like to try on new shells for size quite regularly if you provide them with a good range.