Something Really Weird?

[skitzzzz]

Hi all i have just witnessed something really weird wonder if anyone can help?
i have red tip mexican hermit crabs well........one large one had another small one well locked together through opening of the shell and the smaller one was knocking the shell ok looked like they were making babies <----- i either need more sleep or padded cell then the larger one completely came out of the large shell the smaller one then swapped into it then the larger one went into the smaller shell now they have parted and the one in the large shell keeps going completely into the shell also most of the small nassarius vibex snails are like scrounging round the larger shell and sticking out as normal
ok i have lost the plot here?
or i have i just witnessed somthing productive

please put my mind at rest before i call for the straight jacket lol

sorry if posted in wrong section

 

[Pheonix]

crabs fight and jostle for shells all the time wether there is someone else in it or not one of those crabs probably a dominant one decided he wanted the others shell and let him know by trying to get in there with the other one.

crabs are rediculasly hard to get to breed in a captive environment so i doubt it was any kind of mating ritual
was it done while your lights were on?

 

[PaulasPets]

I have no idea how hermits mate. It could also be that they where fighting about the big shell and your smal hermit won the fight. I've seen this on the BBC documentaries Blue Planet. Do you have any extra shells in your tank, so your hermits can move into a new home when they outgrow their old one?

 

[skitzzzz]

Hi thanks
yes lights were on
yes i have 3 shells to 1 crab in tank various sizes shapes etc so there is no shortage there they swap about a lot
just seemed weird and onced finished the other snails congregated to were it happened as though to clean up ? both still alive going about as normal bussiness
thanks for reply
oh well maybe i will add few more shells
the hermits have lots room hiding places also
guess it was round 1 lol and bruno won
great no funny farm for me