Our sole Blue Leg Hermit (Clibanarius tricolor) has had a recent obsession with cleaning this Astraea Snail (Astraea tecta).
Since the addition of our Juvenile Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) this hermit has maintained a relatively low profile. However, since switching out one of the 10K spots to an extremely blue (20K+) light this little guy has [...]
Our sole Blue Leg Hermit (Clibanarius tricolor) has had a recent obsession with cleaning this Astraea Snail (Astraea tecta).
Since the addition of our Juvenile Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) this hermit has maintained a relatively low profile. However, since switching out one of the 10K spots to an extremely blue (20K+) light this little guy has become more comfortable and active during the dawn and dusk simulations.
If there is not enough food in the aquarium, the Blue Leg Hermit may attack snails. Many cite this reason for not including them in their reefs, but I find them a useful and interesting addition. This individual has grown considerably and will be ready to find a new shell to call home soon.
Some studies suggest that scent can play a roll in shell switching behavior of Hermit Crabs. I plan on giving this a test in a separate container to see if we can induce our Clibanarius tricolor to find a new home in one of the attractive snail shells we have collected.
If you’re interested in reading further about this I suggest reading these two studies.
”Induction of shell-switching behavior in Clibanarius tricolor by chemical odors.” The Ohio Journal or Science (2003). Patchouly N. Banks, Sara J. Hallas, Kristen S. Lindeman, Kathleen A. Reinsel, James M. Welch.
“Chemical mediation of behavior in hermit crabs: Alarm and aggregation cues.” Journal of Chemical Ecology 18 (1992): 959-84. D. Rittschoff, D. W. Tsai, P. G. Massey, L. Blanco, G. L. Kueber Jr. and R. J. Haas Jr.
