Hermie ATTACK

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:29 pm

I looked in on my Hermie's and saw what looked to be my one Hermie's seabreeze getting ready to change his shell. He was digging in another shell. Then I realized that the shell he was digging in had been the shell serg was in. I went and picked up seabreeze to look to see if serg was in the other shell and seabreeze didn't let go. He held onto that shell with dear life. I ended up putting them upside down in water to separate them. It felt like it took hours to get them apart. Anyway, I looked in on serg, who was sucked back in so far that I could barely see him, and he looked alright. I didn't notice any dents but the only thing I could see was his bp. I put serg in iso so he could relax a little and put a blanket over the tank to keep it dark. I peeked in on him and he hasn't moved at all. I sat there and watched for 30 minutes after that and still not even a quiver. My question is, could he be stuck in the shell, being as though he was sucked so far in to avoid the attack? Also, what is the reason for such an attack? I have had all of these crabs together for at least 4 months. I feed lots of meats plus narnars food. Why after all this time would they go at it like that?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:42 am

It sounds like a shell fight, not agression due to diet. Do you have 2-3 extra shells per crab? Do you have one that looks like the one Serg's shell for Seabreeze to change into? Could they ber due for a molt? pre-molt crabs will sometimes be agressive, or become the victum of aggression, they just don't feel good and are grumpy and uncomforable. I'm sorry that happed, how stressful.

troppo · Post by **troppo** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:09 am

Hopefully Serg will be ok. He's probably just scared out of his wits right now. I've seen it happen on occasion with my crabbies,and they've been ok haven't been stuck or anything when they're tucked right into their shells.
Crabber's definately right with pre-molt crabs(if that's the case for Serg) being aggressive or ending up as victims. One of my jumbos was in pre-molt and was ripped out of his shell by his tank-mate.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:06 pm

Thanks everybody!! To answer some of the questions: I have plenty of shells for them to choose from and at least 4 of that same shell in the appropriate size for seabreeze. Secondly, I think that both Crabber and Troppo are right, since I put serg in iso he has dug down somewhere. He probably was premolt. I actually think seabreeze might be premolt also cause he is acting wierdly and almost seems to be pacing around on the substrate, when usually he stays up on one of the second levels.

troppo · Post by **troppo** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:39 pm

Hi Casey,

Maybe Seabreeze is acting oddly with all the pacing around on the substrate because he's looking for his tankmate?
I had two crabs in a 20 gallon tank last year and I moved one crab to ISO after he was attacked in pre-molt. The remaining crab acted oddly as well by racing around on the substrate looking all around,and then would even stand in one spot looking around and chirping.
He wasn't being harrassed or anything,but I figured that he must have been sad because his tankmate was missing,so he was calling out to him,even though his crabby instinct got the better of him by attacking his tankmate.
When I picked him up,he seemed very subdued,almost like he knew he'd done wrong.