Hermit Problems

[Splatter]

So last night about 12 I was lying in bed and trying to go to sleep and all of a sudden I hear some taps coming from my aquarium...I disregarded it at first (as you do) but it persisted and persisted untill about half 12, when I got so curious I turned on my light and had a look around the aquarium to see what was going on.

It was...wierd. It seemed that my bigger hermit was grappling the smaller one from its shell and was trying to pull him out (they rocked back and forth at points, tapping the glass). Of course this all happened in hermit time...so of course it was across the space of about two hours. Heh. Anyways, come about 2:30 am the bigger hermit had pulled the smaller one from its shell and moved itself into the newly empty shell.

At this point the smaller hermit was gripped onto the bigger hermits shell right at the back out of the way of his claws (And wow...I was actually amazed when I saw it...Naked hermits look pretty cool me thinks xD), after taking a look inside the bigger hermit decided it was better in its old shell and moved back. By this time it was 3am...Unfortunately I promptly fell asleep, as unfortunate as that was becasue I was really interested - and the bigger hermit didn't really look finished.

Now, I take that from this action it's clear to see that the hermits are out growing their shells and I need to place bigger ones in the tank? Any help appreciated! (And sorry, no pictures of the hermits I had my phone downstairs)

Thanks!

 

[SkiFletch]

That's exactly what they do. It's not really clear if the behavior of seeking out new shells is just the way they are of if seeing that happen indicates that the hermit actually needs a new shell... Even when people have larger shells in the aquarium for them to move into they still attack each other and snails. The hermits do not have the developed altruistic brains we do. They see a shell, go after it, and if they like it they keep it, if not they move back into their old one and move along and to hell with whatever inhabited the other shell in the first place.

 

[Splatter]

Thanks for clearing that up for me skifletch!

I expect I should come to expect it with them being in such a small tank, ah well, hopefully it'll be small enough to always see the shells I'm putting in too

 

[dilbert]

I got only one single hermit in my pico, also 12 liters. There is no one to attack or to hassle, so this lazy bugger lays often days on the same location like a bummler on the sidewalk. Until now, he has still ignored the vast collection of 6 bigger shells. Maybe he'e waiting for someone coming along ...