HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I was able to capture a fairly decent shot of one of my crabs exhibiting hunting behavior. Artemis has been doing this very specific move for about a year now, so I feel pretty confident calling it hunting behavior. First, she digs a small depression in the sand with her two pinchers by spreading them outward, then she widens her stance by spreading out her walking legs, brushes the sand off her pinchers, and crouches down low to wait for an isopod to stumble into her little pit.

Just last night, another of my crabs (also a female) did this exact same thing for the first time (that I've seen). Now I'm wondering if she "learned it" from Artemis, or if it's instinctive behavior. Those of you who have witnessed hunting behavior in your hermit crabs, is this what it looked like?

Interesting find! I always wanted to try isopods myself, and probably will soon.
Your little girl is very clever with catching methods!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

What do isopods do?

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

Undercrablife wrote:What do isopods do?

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

They help keep the tank clean by eating poo and leftovers in the tank.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

C_fiesta wrote:

Undercrablife wrote:What do isopods do?

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

They help keep the tank clean by eating poo and leftovers in the tank.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

O thats cool

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

I've had a similar case as well, that i reported back in the day. One of my crabs was slowly 'stalking' the isopod and then quickly pounced on it, filled it over and devoured it! It was rather interesting.

Very cool!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ok - That's pretty cool!! I have only seen ours climbing the cholla and occasionally poking a leg tip in there since most of our isopods like to hang in there:)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk