Hermit Crab Habits

[rookie07]

I have various types of Hermit crabs.
And Ive notice that many of them return to the same place every night, or at least very often. These hermits tend to spend hours in theses places. Often the location chosen is between two rocks, suspended in the air, or in my torch between the heads. It seems to be the same hermit going to the same place, hermit A goes to spot A, hermit B goes to spot B....., always the same place for each hermit.

Is this common?

 

[KathyC]

Excellent question. I've recently noticed the same thing in both of my tanks. Don't know how I never noticed it before!

A couple of weeks ago, I found all of my micro brittle stars gathered in one spot, odd at first (there were sooo many!), and then they spawned. Unfortunately I didn't get any pics but it was interesting to watch

 

[bigbris1]

Wow Kathy, can I have some of those micro stars?

 

[sil3ncio]

hey kathy, can i have a couple of those also.....

 

[rookie07]

:backtotop

 

[KathyC]

Rookie my hermits tend to gather either on a cap or on a rock. I understand it is irritating to frogspawn for the hermits to be walking on them. Have you noticed any ill effects on the coral itself.

And sorry fellas, I'm not trying to get those little brittle stars out of the rocks they live in..I'd have to disassemble rock to do so. If a few wander out on their own... then maybe

 

[tosiek]

If you see one micro star in your tank be sure there are plenty there. I have a few that i rarely see, and today upon removing a rock to get out a wierd worm i seen 20 baby micro serpents fall out. =0)

 

[rookie07]

No damage on the torch...the shell of the hermit doesnt touch any soft tissue.