Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > Invert and Plant Forums > Other Invertebrates
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 02/10/2018, 10:25 AM   #1
Apoplexic
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 16
*** is this Scarlet Reef Hermit doing?

So for something close to 18 hours at the time of posting, I have had a Scarlet Reef locked into this position with a freshly-boiled, clean empty shell. I note this specifically as it hasn't had time to be "food" yet (no algae, nothing hidden inside), and yet the crab won't leave it alone.

I have had the Red/Blue/Yellow/Orange/whoactuallyknowsuntilthecrabislarger Tip Clibanarius species in my tank change shells several times, and it is always a quick investigation/drop in for fit check/keep it or go back process. My Scarlets, however, are all still in the shells they came in.

So a two-part question. First, has anyone ever seen a Scarlet change shells? Not after, when it's in a new one, but actually swap out observed.

Second, does anyone know if the Paguristes genus (or the cadenati species specifically) modify the inside of their shells? Several species of land hermits do this, and some to a great degree. Staghorn marine hermits, though not even in the same genus, also present this behavior with their living invertibrate home, carving out the space for its body rather than seeking a new shell, and have even been observed climbing the horns fully exposed to do "maintenence."

Either way, the crab stayed latched to the inside as I moved it to redecorate, and didn't come out hours later for my "mysis-bomb", aka feeding time, when the rest of the crabs I've presumed dead because I haven't seen them in days show up. Its behavior is odd, and I'm really curious what it's up to.


Attached Images
File Type: jpg 20180210_103733.jpg (22.2 KB, 59 views)
Apoplexic is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/10/2018, 10:33 AM   #2
nozleman
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Camarillo, ca
Posts: 208
It might be ready to molt, so it is trying to do this before the switch, had it happen a few times!


nozleman is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/10/2018, 11:02 AM   #3
Apoplexic
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by nozleman View Post
It might be ready to molt, so it is trying to do this before the switch, had it happen a few times!
I've been wondering about this since I read they do surface molts, and fast ones compared to the land crabs. It still strikes me as "funny" that they either don't care to hide, or that this crab considers itself hidden. They're still alive and thriving in multitudes in the wild though, so it obviously works.

As I recall they molt at night? Would my blues bother this or is that probably "night" enough?


Apoplexic is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/10/2018, 11:01 PM   #4
Apoplexic
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 16
Unless I missed a quick nomming of exo, the fella was just taking a day and a half to change shells.

If the old one doesn't have a new owner after a few days, I'm going to poke around in it with something and try to see if it's been hollowed out.


Attached Images
File Type: jpg 20180210_235113.jpg (42.8 KB, 26 views)
File Type: jpg 20180210_235223.jpg (27.4 KB, 19 views)
Apoplexic is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:15 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.