Hermit Crabs Are Happier Together!
🐚🦀 🐚🦀 🐚🦀 🐚🦀 🐚🦀
Many people think that hermit crabs like to live alone (because of their name). But, that isn't the case. Hermit crabs get depressed when alone and need a few roommates. This is because, in the wild, hermit crabs live in huge colonies of 100 or more! The colonies travel along the beachand shorline in search of food. And, also, the more hermits around, the more shells! Researchers have placed a shell near a colony of hermits and initiated a chain of shell switches. A hermit switches into the new shell and another hermit switches into its old shell and so on.
If you are considering getting hermit crabs, or are a current owner, think about getting him/her a friend or two (or more). Build a mini colony!
But, crabs do kill each other sometimes. If you have a crab that has killed a crab in the same enclosure, you could have an unusual stubborn crab (that wants to be left alone) or just too small of a tank.
Often times, it is the latter. Hermit crabs in the same colony establish a pecking order, usualy biggest and strongest, to weakest and smallest. Hermit crabs have antennea fights to find who is the strongest in the clan. These antennea fights consist of two hermies battleing with their antennea. The crab that keeps its antennea up for the longest wins. Other ways of fighting for status are pushing and kicking, and pulling another roomate out of its shell. Hermits left shelless often are left to choose a more uncomfortable, empty shell to live in.
When hermit crabs feel caged and compressed, they want to peck down their number of roommates. Usually, the smaller ones die first, because they are the weakest. And the big ones win out.
But, no one wants precious hermies to die, so give your pets a suitable, safe, and comfortable home. The bigger the better, but don't break the bank. Search for used tanks that still have years to them.
And, pick the right size that you think is necessary. Here is a good care sheet with a size chart from the Hermit Crab Association (HCA), a forum with many experienced crabbers helping newer crabbers.
http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=852643#p852643
So, I hope that if you are bringing home a hermie, you bring home more than one. The more the merrier!
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