mating crabs?

[krabby_katie]

Okay, so I think that two of my hermit crabs are mating. Mr.Krabs was ontop of Xena and she was making funny noises. It almost sounded like squeeking rubber. I know this might sound silly, but I was just wonder: are they mating or what? I find it kind of odd...

[iluvhermies]

Hermies do not mate in captivity. They have to lay their eggs in the ocean. As far as the sound it is called chirping. They usually make that noise when they are worried about something.

[krabby_katie]

Huh, okay. It was really weird. He was like ontop of her, but they weren't fighting, or anything like that.

[iluvhermies]

She may have been worried te other hermie may try to take her shell. I have had that happen once. It was terrible. The one on top grabbed the other one by the shell and shook until she left her shell and then he took it over. I found her and put her in ISO. I guess it was so stressful cause she passed away. Was when I first got my hermies.

[krabby_katie]

Oh my gosh. I'm glad that that never happened. He's left her alone for now. I hope it stays that way.

[iluvhermies]

He may just have been climbing over her. Hermies like to go right through not around. It just might have made her nervous.

[krabby_katie]

He actually stayed ontop of her for a few hours.

[krabby_katie]

I don't know what I'm going to do with my hermies. Xena has gotten into the Attempted Shell Snatching too! All of them kept me up lastnight, chirping. Mr. Krabs was trying to steal Xena's shell. Then later, Xena tried to steal Hubert's shell. I don't get it. There's about 15 perfectly fine shells in the tank. They have all checked them out before. I don't know why they feel the need to try to steal someone else's shell!

[iluvhermies]

How big is your tank and how many hermies do you have? They may just be sitting on each other not trying to steal shells.

[krabby_katie]

I have a 15 gallon tank and 3 hermies. Why would they chirp so much if they were just sitting on each other though?