3 Dead scarlet hermit crabs

[divemasterjim]

So far since I got my scarlet hermit crabs I have found 3 dead. Could my dwarf red tip hermits be killing them? or is it somthing else? Im begining to suspect I may have a mantis but not sure. So far I have lost a 3 spot domino damsil and 3 scarlet hermit crabs.

 

[scuba_steve]

could be a sign of one for sure !! how big was the 3 spot ??

 

[ClamKnuckle]

quick question....did you just see the shells or the "bodies" of the hermits?

could have been a molt maybe?

 

[acid_burn]

I bought 6 scarlets about a month ago, and within a week 3 of them were dead. They were torn limb from limb and I seen the bodies laying on the sand. There has always been a clicking noise from my tank and about a week ago...there it was...yep a MANTIS.

HTH,
Rich

 

[TygGer]

I just recently learned that hermits molt. A few days ago, I thought my CBS had taken another victim when I saw him holding a small red particle which looked like a scarlet hermit. The shell that the scarlet was in looked empty for a few hours... so I assumed that the CBS had eaten him. Hours later, the hermit appeared! Guess the CBS was just eating the molt.

 

[Sea Cat]

Yeah, my scarlets molt and switch shells all the time.
I never know which shell I'll find them in when I wake up in the morning.
Marine hermits are very fickle creatures.
They're funny that way.

 

[divemasterjim]

I saw the bodies and I saw some leggs

 

[scuba_steve]

did ya find the mantis??

 

[divemasterjim]

nope