hermit crabs exhibit new behavior

[Captain Feedback]

I've had red-legged hermit crabs in my 55gal tank for at least a year
now ... this is my second batch but these guys have been in there for
at least half a year.

Today I see one of them crawling up the side glass of the tank. This
side faces a corner and I allow coraline algae to grow on it. It's
like watching a Spiderman routine, but he must be somehow holding onto
the algae ... also looks like he might be feeding on it. Moving very
slowly.

So I'm thinking I'm going to post a note to this
rec.aquaria.marine.reefs describing this new behavior, and before I
head over to my PC, I look into the tank again ... another hermit crab
is doing the same thing.

No recent changes to the tank as far as I can tell. I started dripping
kalkwasser at night a couple of months ago, that's about it. The
coraline algae layer on the Spiderman wall doesn't appear to be thicker
than before, though it might be.

I've never seen my hermit crabs doing this before. Any ideas as to
what might be provoking them to do this?

Thanks in advance.

[Pszemol]

"Captain Feedback" > wrote in message ups.com...
> I've never seen my hermit crabs doing this before. Any ideas as to
> what might be provoking them to do this?

Mine are happily doing the same thing...
I guess this is normal behaviour of venturing for search of food.

If you ask why hermits are climbing wall to eat algae,
you probably see no reason in people climbing K2 ;-)
http://www.netia.pl/k2/zdjecia_k2.html?z=8#foto

[George Patterson]

Captain Feedback wrote:
>
> I've never seen my hermit crabs doing this before. Any ideas as to
> what might be provoking them to do this?

Mine are doing the same thing.

George Patterson
There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures. Right next to the
mashed potatoes.

[Ray Martini]

I've had mine about 5 months now. Haven't seen that behavior yet. Looking
forward to it.


"Captain Feedback" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> I've had red-legged hermit crabs in my 55gal tank for at least a year
> now ... this is my second batch but these guys have been in there for
> at least half a year.
>
> Today I see one of them crawling up the side glass of the tank. This
> side faces a corner and I allow coraline algae to grow on it. It's
> like watching a Spiderman routine, but he must be somehow holding onto
> the algae ... also looks like he might be feeding on it. Moving very
> slowly.
>
> So I'm thinking I'm going to post a note to this
> rec.aquaria.marine.reefs describing this new behavior, and before I
> head over to my PC, I look into the tank again ... another hermit crab
> is doing the same thing.
>
> No recent changes to the tank as far as I can tell. I started dripping
> kalkwasser at night a couple of months ago, that's about it. The
> coraline algae layer on the Spiderman wall doesn't appear to be thicker
> than before, though it might be.
>
> I've never seen my hermit crabs doing this before. Any ideas as to
> what might be provoking them to do this?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>

[Pszemol]

"Ray Martini" > wrote in message ...
> I've had mine about 5 months now. Haven't seen that behavior yet.
> Looking forward to it.

They are unable to climb clean glass, of course...
To see this behaviour you need to have coraline algae on the glass.

[George Patterson]

Pszemol wrote:
>
> To see this behaviour you need to have coraline algae on the glass.

Mine climb the sealant beads in the corners.

George Patterson
There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures. Right next to the
mashed potatoes.