Hermit-on-hermit aggression

[Fungus]

Hello all,
I have a 10g reef with 6 red legged hermits. The largest one (2cm shell) roams around and bullies the smaller guys (1cm shell). He'll flip them over and claw at them inside their shells. Of course, he doesn't bother the very passive and larger electric blue in the tank. Is this aggressive behavior? Mating? How can I teach him to leave the others alone and just play nice?

 

[nxb161]

Just sit the big hermit down and have a good talking to him. Ask him how he's feeling, maybe you only provide extra shells for the little guys, and he resents them for it.

 

[Fungus]

I forgot to say that I have extra shells in the tank that are big enough for the bully hermit.

 

[rancidpetals]

I think he is just a bully. Of course he isn't messing with the larger crabs, only the smaller one. If he doesn't stop, I'd take him out and take him back to the LFS.

 

[Tim Wheatley]

I forgot to say that I have extra shells in the tank that are big enough for the bully hermit.

Add some smaller ones too. It might provide relief if he turns empty ones over a bit. He perhaps isn't totally aware of his size?

 

[cmor1701d]

Crabs eat crabs...snails...anything they can. They are omnivores. I watched my red and blue leg hermits decimate each other and my snails the first year I had my tank.

 

[austinsdad]

Short of removing him, there's nothing you can do about it.