hermit crabs

[Pat6274]

I need help. I started my salt water 55 gallon tank a few weeks ago. Something is eating my hermit crabs leaving only the head and claws. Is it possible they are eating each other?

 

[warvillian]

What livestock do you currently have in your tank?

 

[Pat6274]

2 clown fish, snails, hermit crabs, but then in the live rock I bought I now have asterina sea stars, and in three holes what looks like maybe small somethings with tan legs. The come out at night. I caught one. Smaller than my finger nail, legs and all.

 

[Pat6274]

I just found a picture and I think I have 3 brittle stars that are hiding in holes in my live rock. Are they coming out at night and eating my hermit crabs? Should I get them out of my tank?

 

[Hinds04]

I think you have hermit crabs molting. Are you noticing any more empty shells than usual?

 

[Hinds04]

In fact I’m almost positive

 

[David S]

sounds like moulting to me.

 

[joy13]

Hermits will kill each other for shells. It is rather disturbing to watch when there is shells all over the tank they could pick up and try out. I have seen a hermit kill a snail to try on its shell that was to big for it. It could only back up so, it backed up in a circle just to crawl back into its old shell.

Hopefully yours is just molting.

 

[mr_X]

those things with the tan legs are probably mini brittle starfish. they are ok. no need to catch them. i agree that hermits will kill each other and snails for their shells. i once had a hermit kill 3 snails in one day, swapped shells 3 times.

 

[bavass]

nitrates will kill hermits too. What are your nitrates?