Dead Hermit Crab

[jtipton]

I went to feed my fish today, and saw a ghost shrimp chewing on the remnants of one of my new hermit crabs. I'm not sure how it got to him. My only guess is that the hermit was changing shells, and was vulnerable to attack. Any other ideas how the ghost shrimp would have gotten him? I can't wait until my butterfly goby and flounder get bigger, so they can exact some revenge on the ghost shrimp.

 

[connorsbala]

You definetly sure it was dead and not just where it had shed its skin...?

 

[jtipton]

Not sure. The hermit body was white, but the claws were still colored. I thought it would be entirely white if it was just an exoskeleton. It also looked kind of meaty where the shell would normally have covered him. These are blue-legged hermit crabs by the way.

 

[Colin_T]

the crab probably died and the shrimp were simply picking at the remains. Hermit crabs are saltwater and don't do well in brackish tanks.

 

[zephi]

the crab probably died and the shrimp were simply picking at the remains. Hermit crabs are saltwater and don't do well in brackish tanks.

depends how and where he got it.
In my area there are brackish hermit crabs. They're not as large in size compared to ones you find at the beach.