Display of dominance or bullying?

Where we discuss the behavior of our hermit crabs, as in fights, pecking orders, shell swaps, etc. Please post all naked-crab posts in the Emergency forum.
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Topic author
kfinnz
Posts: 74
Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2016 7:14 pm
Location: Richmond, VA

Display of dominance or bullying?

Post by kfinnz » Wed Dec 21, 2016 8:32 pm

So all my crabs came from the same group at the store and got along great at first, but things have been off and they're acting strange lately and I'm starting to get concerned.

My largest crab has recently come up from her molt, and all the other crabs have finished theirs recently before her, and I'm not sure if she's just asserting dominance or actually bullying the other crabs. I already have an aggressive crab (he's my one waiting on some new shells to get here for him) in iso so I can't put her in time out or anything. I haven't heard any chirping, but the other crabs have seemed more shy and reserved now that she's around. I only saw her hanging around my smallest guy but he spent a day in the cholla branch before moving to a moss pile, and when she hung around I became concerned and noticed he had buried. My second biggest is still topside and I don't think they are shell fighting (the big girl recently took a new shell and has not been expressing an interest in switching and there are lots of other shell options) since she's not flipping him over. She just gets on top of him and like covers the top of his shell. He shrinks into his shell when she does this and it's happening more frequently. I have noticed they've been antennae fencing A LOT lately. Just moments ago she followed my 2nd biggest into the hermie hut to sit on top of him, she let go when I came near though.

Nothing has seemed to be actually harmful yet (that I have seen at least) but the increasing frequency of other crabs hiding (like the smallest), slinking to back corners and acting spooked (which the 2nd biggest will do sometimes after she's on top of him), and her being on top of them like that has me worried. Is this normal displays of dominance or possible bullying? Should I intervene or let them work it out? I don't want my other hermies to fear their tank mate and be stressed all the time :(

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Rawrgeous
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Re: Display of dominance or bullying?

Post by Rawrgeous » Thu Dec 22, 2016 1:35 am

In general if they are not trying to take each others shell it's just them establishing pecking order. There will always be "dominate" crabs, and more passive crabs. They will likely hide a lot during the day anyways, as they are nocturnal. I usually don't see mine out and about until at least 8-9 pm. :)


Topic author
kfinnz
Posts: 74
Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2016 7:14 pm
Location: Richmond, VA

Re: Display of dominance or bullying?

Post by kfinnz » Fri Dec 23, 2016 1:09 pm

That's good! Yeah they're not trying to steal shells from what I can tell, but I'll keep my eye on the big ones who are similar sizes just to make sure.

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