Is it normal for hermit crabs to care for each other?

I have two hermit crabs Dash and Layla. I know that hermit crabs are very social despite their name, but I can't find anything on the internet about them specifically caring for one another. They travel in groups of hundreds. So Dash is the size of a baseball and Layla is the size of a quarter. She crawls on his back and they work together to escape and help each other. I once put a toy Alligator in their tank and put Layla near it on top of their hut. Dash came to her rescue and drug her to safety, you could tell he was aggressive toward the alligator. Now she has been burying herself which is normal once a year to molt(they become very vulnerable) but she couldn't cover herself with sand all the way so Dash sat over her placing sand grain by grain over her so she was well hidden. He can push sand and bury her fast if he wanted but he sat there for hours loosely placing sand over her. They're always together. Is this normal? Could it be hermy love?

Voting Results
82% Normal
Based on 34 votes (28 yes)
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Comments ( 13 )
  • Mutt22

    I don't see why not.I refuse to believe that us humans are the only animals on Earth that truly care and are empathetic for each other,I believe all animals have the capacity of love and empathy even hermit crabs. Afterall we evolved from other animals so it means that the feeling of love had to have come from animals before us. This is a very nice and inspiring tale hermit crab love :)

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  • sherry

    Awwwwwww....... I think they like the tank. They have 3 hots and a cot and no ones going to step on them. Pipe some music into the tank for a little extra action. I recommend Clare de Lune.

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    • 123456789assssssss

      I recommend this: https://youtu.be/fet3btCHOaI?list=PLL0CQjrcN8D1yKkADqxToU-SjQ1TjtOgZ

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  • soccer2

    That's awesome! Animals do things that may seem weird but might be normal for
    Them. I mean if we can have empathy then why can't they? Haha I love it. I want some hermit crabs now...

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  • 123456789assssssss

    I ship it.

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  • Shnuffshnuff23

    I miss my hermit crab

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  • catalyst4change

    It sounds like they are VERY happy (to that 1st poster).

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  • As I was reading this I started to cry because it is so cute and reminded me of my ex who I love very much:')<3

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  • sherry

    That story made my day. I'm at home alone taking care of my sick mother and husband and feeling down. Then I read this story and I'm laughing.

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  • hotchickie81

    Aww :)

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  • Lockets

    I don't know about crab love but I think that it is cruel to keep them as pets. They should have freedom to roam the sea. They are probably going stir crazy as 'pets'.

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    • HuxleyYards

      FUCK YOU!!! THIS IS THE CUTEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD ABOUT!! I HOPE IT IS HERMY LOVE!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 :D :D

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    • Starlly

      Look if we released them at this point they'd probably die because they don't know how to live in the habitat any longer and you if you saw the store we bought them from you would see how much better off they are now.

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