Hunting isopods
Hunting isopods
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?
-
- Posts: 1341
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 7:08 am
- Location: Texas
Re: Hunting isopods
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
Your little girl is very clever with catching methods!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Crabber Since 2016
7 Caribbeans & 2 Ecuadorians
I am the proud owner of my hermit crabs, aquarium fish, and isopod totes!
7 Caribbeans & 2 Ecuadorians
I am the proud owner of my hermit crabs, aquarium fish, and isopod totes!
-
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:59 pm
Re: Hunting isopods
What do isopods do?
Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk
Re: Hunting isopods
They help keep the tank clean by eating poo and leftovers in the tank.Undercrablife wrote:What do isopods do?
Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Hey! I'm Christine! I have 5 hermit crabs. Join me on Instagram @christinescrabcare. Also, checkout my Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/christinescrabcare
-
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:59 pm
Re: Hunting isopods
O thats coolC_fiesta wrote:They help keep the tank clean by eating poo and leftovers in the tank.Undercrablife wrote:What do isopods do?
Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 5006
- Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:12 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Hunting isopods
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.
|| Avid Aquarist Addict (2007) || Crazy Crabbing Connoisseur (2012) || Amateur Aroid Admirer (2014) ||
"She’s there, she’s upright, and she’s wigged" ~ Trixie
Infrequently on due to studies
"She’s there, she’s upright, and she’s wigged" ~ Trixie
Infrequently on due to studies
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 7242
- Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:56 pm
- Location: Florida
- Contact:
Re: Hunting isopods
Very cool!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com
Re: Hunting isopods
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
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk