Need Suggestions- Something killing hermit crabs!

Salt Convert · 04/26/2009, 03:13 PM

Does anyone have any idea what may be killing/eating my scarlet hermit crabs? I have a 30 gal nano with live rock, scarlet hermit crabs, black turbo snails, and one small starry blenny. In the mornings I have been regularly finding the head/pincers section of yet another dead and half-eaten crab, but never the shell. It seems like the smallest ones are going first, could the bigger hermits be killing the smaller ones? Started out with 4, two were killed, purchased 3 more, now only 3 total are left. Feed frozen food twice a week incase they're being killed out of hunger, but doesn't seem to change anything. Have never seen empty hermit shells. Could something have come in on the live rock and stayed hidden this whole time? What should I be looking for? Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks for all comments!

davewbush · 04/26/2009, 04:40 PM

Hermit crabs molt like shrimp. It looks just like a live crab. This is why you can't find any empty shells. The other hermits are probrable hiding in the rocks.

thegrun · 04/26/2009, 04:52 PM

+1, most likely molting, not eaten. They tend to hide for a couple of days after molting.

Felix T Cat · 04/26/2009, 06:39 PM

I have a 29g and for the life of me cannot keep scarlet reef hermits. My blue leg hermits are doing great but gave up on scarlets.

Salt Convert · 04/26/2009, 07:45 PM

I hope it is molting, but the remnants are pretty solid, not shell-like, so to speak. Usually a lot of flesh, not just an exoskeleton. If it is molting, how can I be sure?

davewbush · 04/26/2009, 07:51 PM

Take a look at your tank in the middle of the night after the lights have been out a few hours and count your hermits. There molt looks just like the front of the hermit, minus the tail end.

Salt Convert · 04/26/2009, 07:57 PM

Oh, I hope that's what it is! Thank you!

04/26/2009, 03:13 PM	#1
Salt Convert Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 38	Need Suggestions- Something killing hermit crabs! Does anyone have any idea what may be killing/eating my scarlet hermit crabs? I have a 30 gal nano with live rock, scarlet hermit crabs, black turbo snails, and one small starry blenny. In the mornings I have been regularly finding the head/pincers section of yet another dead and half-eaten crab, but never the shell. It seems like the smallest ones are going first, could the bigger hermits be killing the smaller ones? Started out with 4, two were killed, purchased 3 more, now only 3 total are left. Feed frozen food twice a week incase they're being killed out of hunger, but doesn't seem to change anything. Have never seen empty hermit shells. Could something have come in on the live rock and stayed hidden this whole time? What should I be looking for? Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks for all comments!

04/26/2009, 04:40 PM	#2
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	Hermit crabs molt like shrimp. It looks just like a live crab. This is why you can't find any empty shells. The other hermits are probrable hiding in the rocks.

04/26/2009, 04:52 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	+1, most likely molting, not eaten. They tend to hide for a couple of days after molting.

04/26/2009, 06:39 PM	#4
Felix T Cat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Honey Brook, PA Posts: 557	I have a 29g and for the life of me cannot keep scarlet reef hermits. My blue leg hermits are doing great but gave up on scarlets.

04/26/2009, 07:45 PM	#5
Salt Convert Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 38	I hope it is molting, but the remnants are pretty solid, not shell-like, so to speak. Usually a lot of flesh, not just an exoskeleton. If it is molting, how can I be sure?

04/26/2009, 07:51 PM	#6
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	Take a look at your tank in the middle of the night after the lights have been out a few hours and count your hermits. There molt looks just like the front of the hermit, minus the tail end.

04/26/2009, 07:57 PM	#7
Salt Convert Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 38	Oh, I hope that's what it is! Thank you!