hermit crabs

[LCP136]

Why is everyone saying that hermit crabs are so bad to have?

[weez1959]

Actually if you don't have snails they are mostly fine!
If you do have snails and they get hungry or they decide the snail shell is prettier and more roomy than what they are living in, they will attack the snails, have a yummy buffet of "Escargots en Cercueils" (translates to snails in coffins) and then move right in!

[charlie]

Actually if you don't have snails they are mostly fine!
If you do have snails and they get hungry or they decide the snail shell is prettier and more roomy than what they are living in, they will attack the snails, have a yummy buffet of "Escargots en Cercueils" (translates to snails in coffins) and then move right in!

Interesting correlation Louise.
Hermits seem to get a bad name just for that purpose. What I have found is, yes, they do eat snails, life goes on. In my redone 300, with a barebottom, the snails have a better chance of turning themselves over when they fall on their head, especially the astrea snails, therefore, less carnage.
Crabs have also been known to attack corals, any kind of corals, so there is another reason that folks don't like them. I am sure that if Poseidon chips in here, he can add some stuff also. I know he is a big hermit crab lover.

[charlie]

I should add that I am very fond of the scarlet reef crabs, I don't think they are as bad as the rest of the lot, but that is just a personal opinion.
I also like the tiny reef hermits that I get from Reeftopia, they don't get real big, and they do a great job of cleaning the detritus off of the rock in my system.

[weez1959]

I bad mouth them all the time but I love them anyways!

I have a ton of them (at least 3 different kinds) and lots of snails too, but I'm always adding snails. I find I need to add about a dozen every couple of months

I don't have astrea or turbo because they either spend all thier time knocking over coral or I find myself flipping them over alot too.

I had about a dozen Marguaritas in there but after about 6 months I noticed they all turned into hermits!

Mostly I have Ceriths, Nassarius and nerites, they seem to do the job, they're always busy too!

I like the Nassarius the best because you never see them until feeding time and as soon as food enters the tank they all come out like zombies.

[charlie]

I had about a dozen Marguaritas in there but after about 6 months I noticed they all turned into hermits!

Have you contacted anybody about this phenomenon????

I have a ton of them (at least 3 different kinds) and lots of snails too, but I'm always adding snails. I find I need to add about a dozen every couple of months

Have you tried the micro hermits I described before? I find that they stay small, and they aren't real aggressive towards other critters.

[weez1959]

Have you contacted anybody about this phenomenon????

I emailed Mulder and Scully but they were just as stumped!

Have you tried the micro hermits I described before? I find that they stay small, and they aren't real aggressive towards other critters.

I've never seen them, you got a latin name for these?
maybe it's something like "hermitus picotae"

[charlie]

No wonder, Mulder and Scully are off the air.

Louise, they are listed as micro blue leg hermits I believe at the Reeftopia site. I just went and checked, and they are out of stock.
My wife hates them, she got a handful of them one time when we were acclimating them, and I thought she was gonna totally freak out. I thought I was gonna be picking them up off the floor!!!!

[Papa Doug]

I also keep scarlet hermits. Never had any problems with them. Some are still in their original shells and over a year old. I, however, do keep an asst. of old turbo shells and such, for them to use as homes if they so desire.

[weez1959]

I will check out J&L up here in Canada and see if they have them.
I already have red leg, blue leg, zebra and electric blue legs, they get into scuffles once in a while but I don't really know how many casualties I've had

[charlie]

Have you ever gotten the left-handed ones?? I have had to throw a bunch of them into the refugium before. Those guys get nasty sometimes???

[weez1959]

Nope, my sump is empty right now except for one really big turbo that waiting for a new home...

[charlie]

I also keep scarlet hermits. Never had any problems with them. Some are still in their original shells and over a year old. I, however, do keep an asst. of old turbo shells and such, for them to use as homes if they so desire.

The last ones I got from Reeftopia were huge, some of the shells they came in were 1.5" or bigger. The thing I like about them is that they seem to be nocturnal. Great viewing at night when they come out and get to work!!!!

I have a zip-loc bag full of old shells for just that purpose.

[Poseidon]

Just say NO to Crabs!

[Poseidon]

LOL!! In all seriousness-

ALL Crabs are opportunistic omnivores, they will eat whatever they can, whenever they can. This menu includes snails, algae, FISH, corals, other crabs, whatever they can kill and eat, they will.

[charlie]

I knew you couldn't get away with just one post!!!!