The Neotropical hermit crabs’ behaviour is rarely studied, although it is an important toolfor the conservation of these invertebrates. In this context, the present study aimed to describe thehermit crab ETHOGRAM on its behaviour in the choice and dispute by shells.60 specimens of hermitcrabs were collected that were occupying mollusc shells Cerithium atratum, in sandstone reefs. Inthe laboratory, 30 hermit crabs were removed from their host shells by heating, the rest remained intheir shells. The specimens were submitted to five experimental tests: (I) behaviour, (II) shell dispute, (III) shell preference, (IV) specimen behaviour with and without shell, and (V) shell contentionbetween individuals with and without shell. The ETHOGRAM was built and evaluated by the Ad Libitumtype of observational sampling methods and by the scanning type, for 30 uninterrupted minutes, records every two minutes, in total 15 observations per each observer. There were eight behaviouralacts divided into 4 categories: immobility, interaction between specimen, environment exploration, and shell occupation. The most frequent behaviour was "walking", for both hermit crabs (54.2%) andthose without shell (59.3%), followed by the rest of the individuals with and without shell, 16.9%and 12.4%, respectively. All hermits preferred mollusc shell Bulla striata, when offered inconjunction with the shell of Astrea tecta. However, all specimens returned to C. atratum shells whenit was experimentally offered with all shells. Studies with hermits have shown that the species haspreferences of gastropods shell C. atratum.