Hermits fighting or mating?

[Raimond]

I have several thin-legged hermits in my tank. The medium one has been here 3 years and other 3 were added last month.

Today I saw the large one and the medium one fighting. When I looked closer the large one was not trying pinch the smaller one but trying to move his/her legs from what I could tell. Are they fighting/establishing dominance or is this a mating behavior?

 

[melosu58]

Most likely they are fighting for the others bigger shell. Need to put some empty shells in the tank to help alleviate fighting for them.

 

[Raimond]

Thanks for the suggestion melosu58. I have a couple larger shells in the tank but it appeared the larger one was the aggressor..
I did some research and some think they only breed in the spring and it takes an increase in water temp to trigger it.
Maybe they were both after a scrap of food I could not see?
The answer may never be discovered.
Thanks again

 

[mr_X]

they are predators. i am betting on "killing each other".

 

[Raimond]

That very well could be. They seam fine with each other today.