Aggressive mini blue hermit crab

[basel146]

One of my Mini blue leg hermit crab is attacking all the others and only left one alive does anyone know why?

 

[James M]

probably trying to compete for food

 

[basel146]

probably trying to compete for food

That’s what I thought but the food seems fine and all the other fish, snails and anemones are fine

 

[bobnicaragua]

I would banish that little monster to the sump!

 

[basel146]

I would banish that little monster to the sump!

We’ve been thinking to just to buy new ones since they are cheap and removing the mean one

 

[cobraz]

Most likely he is looking for a bigger shell to move into...having a few spares allows them change out as often as needed.

 

[basel146]

Most likely he is looking for a bigger shell to move into...having a few spares allows them change out as often as needed.

But he looks into the shells trying to find his enemy because we leave the dead hermits shells in not the body

 

[Sparkledust]

One of my Mini blue leg hermit crab is attacking all the others and only left one alive does anyone know why?

I’m having a similar issue with mine,

I’ve one good sized blue legged hermit crab. I did have two (they were both bought together) but other one disappeared whilst I was on holiday back in September never seen it since.
Yesterday I added 2 more hermit crabs and a few snails. Blue legs as chucked the little hermit crabs off the rock after trying to get them and actually ragged a snail out and killed it.

Google AI overview says they’re sociable with other crabs but im really not convinced myself more so after reading your fed

 

[basel146]

I’m having a similar issue with mine,

I’ve one good sized blue legged hermit crab. I did have two (they were both bought together) but other one disappeared whilst I was on holiday back in September never seen it since.
Yesterday I added 2 more hermit crabs and a few snails. Blue legs as chucked the little hermit crabs off the rock after trying to get them and actually ragged a snail out and killed it.

Google AI overview says they’re sociable with other crabs but im really not convinced myself more so after reading your fed

It’s really random because my algae is pretty good and I only have 2 hermits left because of him because he killed 3 of them he’s also been trying to eat my baby ninja star snails

 

[Sparkledust]

It’s really random because my algae is pretty good and I only have 2 hermits left because of him because he killed 3 of them he’s also been trying to eat my baby ninja star snails

I wonder if our blue leg hermit are just territorial and doesn’t like the help of clearing the algea?

 

[exnisstech]

All my hermits ever so when they aren't killing snails is to all lay in a pile and fight.

 

[musaabi]

Just added more cleaning crew and a good amount of hermits. I’ve seen a smaller hermit running away from a larger blue leg hermit who was attempting to kick him out. It was weird because the shell and crab were so much bigger than the one he was attacking so he wouldn’t have been able to fit in it anyways. I also have a great amount of algae and not a lot of competition

 

[ajmckay]

Sometimes you just have to replenish them...

They don't grow their own shells so they steal them. And there's no real logic to it either. Kill the snail, try on it's shell. It might be much to large or much to small I don't think the hermits really know that until they try it on.

Of course they'll go after other hermits also. I do find it really helps to have a bunch of switching shells in there also.