by Vanessa Pike-Russell

Behaviour in the Wild


Land hermit crabs are territorial animals, and as such they will often act aggressively towards one another to establish a 'pecking' order among their colony. Sometimes this can be in the form of 'feeler' or antennae fights, others in violent pushing or flicking fellow tank mates out of the way. Usually this is not serious enough to warrant intervention. However, some hermit crabs will act in a manner that is harmful to other hermit crabs, often trying to pull their hermie buddy out of a desired shell, or attacking eyes, antennae, claws, legs or abdomen.

If you witness behaviour that may be harmful to one or more hermit crabs, it is important to separate them until the aggressor has setled down. Sometimes tank aggression can be a precursor to a moult, or the result of being picked on or bullied in the past. The most common form of aggression is where one crab tries to pull their tank-mate out of the security of the seashell.

This is a collection of posts from CLD from 1999. While not all of the information in these posts is still considered accurate it is worth reading as Don was a important part of hermit crab care development.

After your crabitat is set up you will have to maintain it and your crabs. Below you will find a list of what tasks should be done daily, weekly and monthly.

By Jennifer Nielsen

The existence of an ocean water dish is a source of great controversy in the world of hermit crab owners. Why the importance of this type of water is rarely debated, it seems that the products used in the creation of Ocean Water are the source of much debate. Just as all hermit crab owners know not to use table salt for their crabs, there are two types of salt available for aquarium use. Fresh Saltwater as well as Ocean Water Salt, which although made of the same components have vastly different role within the world of fish keeping.

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