Question? How stupid are hermits?

fishgate · 12/08/2011, 02:24 PM

I have a hermit crab that got stuck/jammed in a piece of coral. I watched him for almost 2 days just sit there. Finally I just freed him and he went on his merry way.

Are hermit crabs stupid enough to die stuck somewhere? Will they not abandon their shell if needed to get out of something?

mjhall85 · 12/08/2011, 02:26 PM

Well they are not the smartest that is for sure. I have had to free a couple from being stuck in crevices in my live rock. They are very hardy so they won't die if stuck for a couple days

zeeter · 12/08/2011, 02:27 PM

Hermit crabs aren't exactly the Einsteins of the animal kingdom. Likely he had the choice of being completely exposed and eaten by a predator (which may or may not have existed but instinct to him says it existed) or continuing to wiggle his way out.

We've all seen pictures of dead Bucks who got their antlers tangled in tree limbs. It happens.

Mr.Tan · 12/08/2011, 02:34 PM

honestly, my blue legs are pretty smart..they know better where to go and not go, and i never have to flip them over hardly at all. Heck, they even find new homes when they need them, of course it involved ripping a snail out of its shell

aleonn · 12/08/2011, 02:43 PM

Hermit crabs and snails aren't very smart. But I do like watching them LOL.

Reefing Newbie · 12/08/2011, 04:17 PM

If you think yours is stupid for getting stuck, then you will think mine has the lowest IQ of any animal. When feeding one of the two bleached BTA's that I have, a hermit would alwasy come over by it and would eventually find himself sitting on top of the nem! The nem is sticking out between two rock branches and the hermit would crawl onto the nem. Do stings effect them? Obviously they weren't bad enough for this one.

tkeracer619 · 12/08/2011, 07:18 PM

Still smarter then some people I know

12/08/2011, 02:24 PM	#1
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	Question? How stupid are hermits? I have a hermit crab that got stuck/jammed in a piece of coral. I watched him for almost 2 days just sit there. Finally I just freed him and he went on his merry way. Are hermit crabs stupid enough to die stuck somewhere? Will they not abandon their shell if needed to get out of something?

12/08/2011, 07:18 PM	#7
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Still smarter then some people I know __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

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12/08/2011, 02:26 PM	#2
mjhall85 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 535	Well they are not the smartest that is for sure. I have had to free a couple from being stuck in crevices in my live rock. They are very hardy so they won't die if stuck for a couple days

12/08/2011, 02:27 PM	#3
zeeter Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 386	Hermit crabs aren't exactly the Einsteins of the animal kingdom. Likely he had the choice of being completely exposed and eaten by a predator (which may or may not have existed but instinct to him says it existed) or continuing to wiggle his way out. We've all seen pictures of dead Bucks who got their antlers tangled in tree limbs. It happens.

12/08/2011, 02:34 PM	#4
Mr.Tan Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: York, PA Posts: 734	honestly, my blue legs are pretty smart..they know better where to go and not go, and i never have to flip them over hardly at all. Heck, they even find new homes when they need them, of course it involved ripping a snail out of its shell

12/08/2011, 02:43 PM	#5
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	Hermit crabs and snails aren't very smart. But I do like watching them LOL.

12/08/2011, 04:17 PM	#6
Reefing Newbie Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,435	If you think yours is stupid for getting stuck, then you will think mine has the lowest IQ of any animal. When feeding one of the two bleached BTA's that I have, a hermit would alwasy come over by it and would eventually find himself sitting on top of the nem! The nem is sticking out between two rock branches and the hermit would crawl onto the nem. Do stings effect them? Obviously they weren't bad enough for this one.