I have two hermit crabs that roam around my tank and cause destruction to everything. They were so small when I got them, now they are huge. Today, they started "fighting" with each other. They act like they are either trying to take over each other's shell or trying to pull one out of it's shell. One crab pulled a small "clam" type shell into it's shell with it and is using it like a door or something. The other crab is just "hanging" out behind the first crab's shell. They haven't left each other's side all day. Are they mating?

One of them will probably be no more soon....bluelegs kill each other for shells all the time.

These are not blue legs. These are regular hermit crabs. They look just like the land crabs. The shells they are in now are a good 2-3" around. I know I should probably trade them out for some blue legs but they were the first things I put in my tank and I just can't bring myself to do it. LOL I just went and looked and they are still in the same position they were in 2 hours ago. Just weird. They are usually so active.


One of them will probably be no more soon....bluelegs kill each other for shells all the time.

Here are a couple of pictures of them.






http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa266/GeorgiaPoetry/crabs.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa266/GeorgiaPoetry/crabs1.jpg


As you can see, one crab is behind the other. The one on its side had drug a small shell up in the shell with it and is using it as a barrier or something.

Weird, if they live I can trade you for a couple blue legs...

I just may take you up on that. They have now separated and are roaming around the tank again eating. All active and happy. It was just so strange. LOL...

That's the beauty of this hobby! Always something new and exciting to watch!! My wife hates delivery day, I will sit down here for 2 or 3 nights just watching and learning the habits of the new fish....it's amazing sometimes!

I'm loving learning and watching this thing grow. The activity amazes me. I hardly even watch tv anymore. My clown goby likes to ride the flow and then swim against it to get back at the beginning and then ride again. When he gets to where the flow slacks off, he looks like he "drifts" and then revs his little fins to fight the current. It's hilarious!!! (Can ya tell we like cars around here???)

HAHAHA!!! I don't watch much tv anymore eighther. And yes, we love cars here too! I had a camaro not too long ago that I used to drift a lil bit:D

Do you have spare (larger) shells in the tank? One could be trying to take the other's shell because it is out growing it's shell.

Oh yes, there are more shells larger than the ones they are in. They are tons of shells in there. I have them all the way up to 7" long conch shells. All shells were picked up at Myrtle Beach after a storm and were well sterlized before putting in tank. They were added to the tank long before I had any fish.