HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi everyone

Just wondering if any one else keeps indos and violas together
do they get on with each other.
JLP

I've been keeping violas and indos together for five years. They get along well and there's never been any friction between the species.

I have a viola in a tank with PP. He's way more aggressive then the others and is a bigger protein eater. I've had to separate him before when he's tried to pull other crabs out of their shells, usually before he molts.

Since he's the only one I think I'm going to rehome now with some other violas instead of a tank of PP.

reichiere wrote:I have a viola in a tank with PP. He's way more aggressive then the others and is a bigger protein eater. I've had to separate him before when he's tried to pull other crabs out of their shells, usually before he molts.

Since he's the only one I think I'm going to rehome now with some other violas instead of a tank of PP.

That behavior isn't at all typical of a viola and is pretty worrying. The fact that he's trying to steal shells leads to believe he may need a different shell type and size than you're offering him. My violas are extremely picky about shells and for years have exclusively worn struthiolaria papulosa.

I've offered him several shells of all different sizes, smaller, bigger, everything. Including the same type of what he's was in currently at that time. I don't think he was attack crabs for their shells. He'd go after everyone, ones smaller then him that he couldn't fit into and he went after my giant crab, more then double his size. He was just being a jerk. I've also notice voilas are very picky about their shells.

I think honestly he wanted to eat them.... He's always sitting on top of the protein pile and not other food stuffs, and I've seen him eating leftover from a crab who died during molting (attacked? Died? I'm not sure. this was back when I first got my crabs) He loves his meat. Because of him I always make sure there's ton of calcium/mineral sources and a variety of animal based proteins. He also loved the pinky I put in once.

I'm also pretty sure somebody else said they noticed their voilas were the more aggressive species of crabs. So I've always assumed he's the bully of the group.

That is like...the Hannibal Lector of hermit crabs. Instead of taking skin for the dress thing he is taking shells and wanting to eat everyone else. *shudder*

sugarselections wrote:My violas are extremely picky about shells and for years have exclusively worn struthiolaria papulosa.

I've added this shell to the Shell Guide, and gave you credit sugarselections.


Reichiere, it could be that you have a killer crab. I've had PPs in the past that were crazy before. Giggles went on a killing spree for several years. Parrot took months before she could be trusted around other crabs. Some crabs may just be wired wrong, but molting does seem to rewire them so over time it seems to work itself out to where they become normal again. I do think it's extremely rare to have one end up that way, but going after other crabs is not necessarily a species thing or a sign of bad care!