[Xena47r]

Hi, I am new to the saltwater aquarium. Things are going quite well, my live rock is sprouting new things all the time. I purchased four hermit crabs last week to see how things would go with them. I don't want to rush things at all, they were added after about 2 1/2 weeks of cycling. Anyhoo, I was watching my little hermies today and noticed that one of them had perched himself in the corner of the tank for the entire day. So, feeling that the little guy had passed I place my net around him to see what was going on. When I did, a dead little hermie popped out and I immediately felt a little sad. I caught him in my net and had a closer look at him. As I did this, the shell from which he came began to move....ok, this freaked me out a little...so I counted up the hermies along with the dead one and had five of them, can anyone explain this?????

[Samper]

It is quite common for LR to have hidden little treasures in it this is most likely what happened. Welcome to the hobby.

[Xena47r]

Originally Posted by Samper

It is quite common for LR to have hidden little treasures in it this is most likely what happened. Welcome to the hobby.

That is conceivable but how did the little guy end up in the same shell as the living hermit? BTW, thanks for the welcome. I feel the dawn of an addiction...lol

[Samper]

I'd say that your hermit already in the shell found some sort of dead crab in your LR and that he was eating it.....but in the world of salt water things never cease to amaze.

[Reefland]

Welcome to Reefland!

If it was in fact a new crab that took residence of the existing crab, it probably killed it for it's shell. Could it have been that what you thought was the crab you were inspecting was actually a molt from the same crab?

[Reefer769]

i think that it was the fourth crabs exoskeleton

[Xena47r]

Originally Posted by Reefer769

i think that it was the fourth crabs exoskeleton

I was actually thinking that but not knowing enough about the hermit crab made me question that theory.....

[hcp28]

Somteimes crabs will molt soon after being placed in a new tank. Not to worry I'm sure your hermits are just fine.

[Xena47r]

Originally Posted by hcp28

Somteimes crabs will molt soon after being placed in a new tank. Not to worry I'm sure your hermits are just fine.

I have confirmed the molting of my hermies! I was watching them this morning and saw one actually 'spit' out its exo.. It looked exactly like the first one I saw. Very cool too! Thanks for the help all!