Shell Fight?
When I went to make my hourly check on the crabs, Fruit Loop, pink ruggie, was on top of Eggo, white ruggie. Eggo’s shell was upside down and he was in his shell, his big pincher was waving at Fruit Loop. Fruit Loop was on top of the shell opening, clinging to the side of the shell with his BP (big pincher). There was no chirping, but it looked like Fruit Loop wanted the shell. They eventually parted when my little Straw, Peppers, entered the scene.
I have a variety of shells, that are all different sizes in the tank. Some say that shell fights may also occur because the hermit crabs are lacking protein in their diets. I give my hermit crabs some form of protein (sardines, salmon, shrimp, chicken, etc.) three to four times per week, so I don’t know if that’s the reason either. Daethian posted a link to the Yahoo Group Epicurean Hermit Crab on the HCA board this morning. Epicurean Hermit Crab is a group for discussing hermit crab diet only (not crab care). I will have to do more research there on protein rich foods for hermit crabs.
Hard to say whether this was real aggression or whether they were just playing; I think they were playing. I did not intercede and no crabs were hurt. This behavior occurs in the wild and I want to try to let them live their lives as natural as possible in their crabitat. I will watch to be sure that these two crabs aren’t going at it on a regular basis.
