Aggression

Behaviour in the Wild

Land hermit crabs are territorial animals, and as such they will often act aggressively towards one another to establish a 'pecking' order among their colony. Sometimes this can be in the form of 'feeler' or antennae fights, others in violent pushing or flicking fellow tank mates out of the way. Usually this is not serious enough to warrant intervention. However, some hermit crabs will act in a manner that is harmful to other hermit crabs, often trying to pull their hermie buddy out of a desired shell, or attacking eyes, antennae, claws, legs or abdomen.

If you witness behaviour that may be harmful to one or more hermit crabs, it is important to separate them until the aggressor has setled down. Sometimes tank aggression can be a precursor to a moult, or the result of being picked on or bullied in the past. The most common form of aggression is where one crab tries to pull their tank-mate out of the security of the seashell.

Handling with Respect and Gentleness

It shouldn't be forgotten that hermit crabs are not toys, but living animals. It is important to pick them up gently, carefully and talking softly to them to let them know that they are safe is often a good idea. Use slow and gentle movements and always remember to carry them steadily. If you were placed on a palm and thought you were going to tumble off the edge, what would you do? A hermit crab doesn't have hands with fingers, it has claws and legs. In order to save itself it will grip on with what it has available, so remember to help your buddy know he is safe from harm and put yourself in the place of the hermit crab at all times. A hermit crab treated with respect and gentlness will be gentle. A hermit crab that is handled roughly and with anger or haste will soon let you know that he can be just as crabby!

Autotomy

In the wild a hermit crab will "throw" a claw or leg if another hermit crab tries to pull them out of their shell. This is a responsive behaviour and their limbs are built in a way that they are able to "drop" or "throw" a limb easily so they may survive an attack. This is called Autotomy.

Normal Behaviour

Tumble Time

You may see your hermit crabs climb over the top of each other, or perhaps flick each other out of a prized spot or corner. This is natural behaviour, and doesn't normally harm your hermit crabs. You may have watched puppies or kittens playing and vying for the best spot near Mummy dog, 'rough-housing' and play fighting. The flicking and tumbling another hermit crab out of the way is just in the nature of the territorial hermit crab and helps to establish 'pecking order' amongst hermit crabs.

Stridulation (Chirping or croaking)

I was doing some reading of my "Biology of the Land Crabs' book today and came across a chapter on stridulation behaviour in land crabs. Of specific interest was a paragraph on Coenobita:

"Stridulation in conjunction with posturing is common in aggressive displays of Coenobita (Hazlett, 1966; S. Gilchrist, unpub). Clicking by rapping of appendages together and by tapping the shell are integral parts of aggressive encounters of C. clypeatus and C. compressus. When alarmed, Birgus latro briskly stamps the second peripods. At other times, even when not apparently alarmed, this crab produces continuous clicks (Grubb, 1971). This may be a proximity warning to con-specifics."

[ Reference: page 130 from Biology of the Land Crabs. Edited by Warren W. Burggren and Brian R. McMahon. Published in 1998 by Cambridge University Press.]

I have other refrences which I will dig up (literally, its all in storage) and share. From personal experience my hermit crabs mainly chirp when there is another crab bullying them. Prime example was when I heard 'rheet rheet rheet' and went over to the tank, saw one crab over the top of another one and trying to pull the poor crab out of its shell! I'd be making a lot of noise too! Some crabs have chirped or croaked when being picked up, but very rarely. It reminds me of a car alarm - sometimes its a false alarm, other times it means something is wrong.

Antennae Fencing

Another thing that hermit crabs like to do is to go up to each other and have a hermie 'antennae/feeler wiggling and touching' encounter. You might see the antennae moving quickly, and brusihng against the antennae of the other hermit crab. This may take a few minutes to die down, and either crab lose interest. Sometimes it is almost as if they are talking in code, giving signals to each other. As long as they are not hurting each other, it is often best to let them interact and develop their social skills with other land hermit crabs.

Cautionary Behaviour

Cheliped Clashes

Sometimes they may even brush cheliped, grasping claw, against each other. IF this progresses into an entirely aggressive act, such as trying to sever antennae, limbs, eye stalks or removing the other hermit crab from its shell, THEN it is time to 'break it up'.

Shell-based Aggression

Example Shell Swap Behaviour: