HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello! My crabs have been acting a bit more aggressive lately. I have two PPs just so you know. They have never shown aggressive behavior in the 2 years I have had them. They usually just mind their own business. In the past month, one of my crabs has gotten a little bit more pushy. He sometimes would guard the food dish for himself. He recently has been sitting on top of the driftwood (highest point in tank) and watching everything. I have noticed him pushing my other crab to the side if they are both going to do the same thing. It is funny, because the aggressive crab is actually about a year younger than the other because that crab changed into a 0.75in opening shell a year after the non aggressive crab did. The other crab seems to just accept it and walk away. He is ONLY in the exact same spot every day hiding in a coconut hut I made. Is that because he is so intimidated? Maybe he is more aggressive because of shell choices? Buying 5 shells is usually good for them because they change shells each a year apart. I don’t know because I have both seen them checking out shells (each rolled around and stuck their head inside of a shell like they were inspecting it. Good thing they were different shells. They were a banded Petholatus (aggressive crab) and a Babylonia (non aggressive crab)). My crab is scared of the other crab. Maybe he is just asserting his dominance? I have been seeing the other crab less often. I have no idea why they are suddenly aggressive? I hope they are just setting up a hierarchy. What should I do if this escalates? Please help! Thank you!

I would put in extra protein in their food dish or maybe even set up another food dish

I do have an extra dish. I can try that. Thank you!

Also at least 3 to 5 extra shells per crab.

Right now, there are 6 shells in the tank. It is lucky that my non aggressive crab tries to stay out of the aggressive one’s way. He doesn’t want to start a fight. He just avoids him.