Hermit crab picking up smaller one

[iratoha]

Hi, im not sure it’s right forum, so im sorry in advance. I bought 7 hermit crabs couple months ago. I know they need to change shells so I also picked a lot of snail shells different sizes. Two of this crabs changed shells pretty fast and grow a lot. Others didn’t grow so much and couple of them still in their original shells. Couple weeks ago I noticed that bigger crab pickings up smaller ones. First I thought it wants to mate, but then I noticed that it just holds them upside down, doing something with its shell. I read that it can mean they want their shell, but it’s like two times smaller, why it want it? Is it time to get rid of big guy? (Donate it) Thank you.

 

[JTP424]

Probably one of many things or a combination of things.
A- He's just checking it out
B- He's eating the algae off the shell
C- He's hungry and wants to eat the hermit
D- He's a jerk
Hermits are opportunistic eaters, wouldn't be surprised if he just wants to eat it because he can.

 

[ColorMeGone]

I would feed them some kind of sinking pellets. Might tone their attitude down a bit.

 

[iratoha]

I would feed them some kind of sinking pellets. Might tone their attitude down a bit.

I thought about it, but I’m afraid it will ruin the water if they wouldn’t eat it all or wouldn’t find it.