Hermit Crabs

[DustyBootsAZ]

Has anyone had any problems with hermit crabs getting themselves stuck in the aqua-scape? I’m a new reefer with a tank that’s only a little over a week old. I had two Halloween hermit crabs, two juvenile clowns and a clown goby. Yesterday I came home from work and found one of the hermits outside of its shell dead. After searching for a while, I found its shell wedged in a small ledge in my rocks. Is this a common thing?

I debating leaving the shell in the tank for the other hermit to grow into since it’s larger than the one it’s in now, but don’t want a repeat if it just happens to be the perfect size to get stuck. Thoughts?

 

[get-salty]

Hi there and welcome.

Blue legged hermits are a bit more calm than the red legged ones, but overall, they will go after each others.
I normally buy 2-3 dozens of them and after a week, there would be empty shells and dead bodies here and there.

Also, they like to wedge into the rock works - its normal.

Yes, keep few empty bigger shells in the tank for the others.

Cheers from Texas

 

[DexterKarin]

You may be seeing a molt of the crab and he may actually be in that shell "resting" post molt. For me they often seem to molt close to when I put them in the tank for the first time.

 

[DustyBootsAZ]

Update: Well nevermind, my hermit is fine. Apparently I’ve just experienced my fist molt

 

[MC Blowfish]

Update: Well nevermind, my hermit is fine. Apparently I’ve just experienced my fist molt

It does make you panic for a second, doesn't it?

 

[DustyBootsAZ]

Update: Well nevermind, my hermit is fine. Apparently I’ve just experienced my fist molt

It does make you panic for a second, doesn't it?

I was preparing a eulogy

 

[StartingATank]

Yeah, My hermit molts every once in a while, but not too often. However, my shrimp seems to be molting every 2 weeks. So my calcium is always at a decent level.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Snails and hermits both love jamming themselves between rocks. It happens frequently if you have tight rockwork, every few months I pull out a few dead snails that got jammed in the rocks.

 

[DustyBootsAZ]

Yeah, My hermit molts every once in a while, but not too often. However, my shrimp seems to be molting every 2 weeks. So my calcium is always at a decent level.

this is my fist tank and it’s only about a week and a half old. I’ve never had hermits before so this was a first! I’m happy they’re comfortable and healthy enough to molt though! I order some new size variety of shells to drop in for them!