Hermits causing trouble...

jlazo · 05-09-2001, 11:11 PM

I just added my three baby maximas from Jeff's, My hermits were all over them! Right when I saw this I removed them and placed them in my sump. How many people are not using hermits? Will this harm or help my tank? Thanks!

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Jeffrey
"We learn wisdom by seeing the misfortune of others"
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http://www.reeflovers.org/~jlazo

naser · 05-09-2001, 11:50 PM

all over them how? just picking at the sides or on the clam itself? i have snails and hermits that clean the shell of my clams.

cwa46 · 05-10-2001, 03:23 AM

I have no idea whether the hermits were doing the clams any damage, but I no longer keep them. I have far more diversity without them and many fry and eggs now survive to maturity in my system that the crabs used to kill. Its a matter of personal choice on what you want your tank to be.

**scubadude** · 05-10-2001, 05:08 AM

Im still using hermits and they do help with some of the algae still! [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] but every once in a while I see one picking on a snail or if I see a big one 1"+ then I might remove it (there are about 3 in my sump/ref) My snails outnumber the crabs though right now about 3 to 1 and most of my snails are trochus which hold their own fairly well and most of my crabs are micro crabs (less than an inch) This creates an excellent ratio IMO and has had very few casualities, I have a couple of crabs that are on the clams, however they are just cleaning the mantle [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]
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Scubadude's Website

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

[This message has been edited by scubadude (edited 05-10-2001).]

**golfish** · 05-10-2001, 06:33 AM

don't worry about it. The clams are something new in the tank and the hermits are just seeing if there's anything good to eat......

Did you do your baby clam research?

Mark

Firefish · 05-10-2001, 07:58 AM

Man, I was just going to post about hermits today...I came home last night to find one of my hermits knuckle deep into one of my smaller snails shell.(say that 10 times fast!)I lost three snails to hermits so far!
I've also found hermits picking at my polyps on occasion.
I wonder if It would be smart to just remove them all???
Anybody else have hermit problems...?

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"It's better to have a hen tomorrow then an egg today."

naser · 05-10-2001, 08:03 AM

a snail is a prime home for a hermit. snails grow while a hermits shell it stolen from a snail and will not grow anymore. so yes they will eat a snail to get the shell!

Firefish · 05-10-2001, 08:05 AM

Ya, but the snail was half its size...the hermit can't fit into its shell.

reefhead · 05-10-2001, 08:31 AM

Hermits will eat anything,I have 1 in my system.

watch them closly

joe

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My Reef Tank
:fish:

Caesar Augustus · 05-10-2001, 05:58 PM

I have heard them refered to as "reef terrorists". I keep a few in each tank but if any get big its, see ya[img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img]
IMHO,
Napoleon

djheywood · 05-10-2001, 09:18 PM

Not only did my hermits eat everything, they would constantly crawl over everything pissing off my corals. I removed all of them except 3 small ones. (Less than 1 inch) I had several 2 inchers for a while but they were just a nuisance.

Just a side note, watch any cleaner shrimp and lawnmower blennies with clams.

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http://www.ssaland.com/reefpages/reefhome.htm

Ockers · 05-11-2001, 01:30 AM

I have about 20 or so in my reef plus an uninvited army of hitchhikers who have an annoying habit of transplanting corals!!. I only have softies & LPS in the tank so just let them get on with it. Makes life more interesting.

05-09-2001, 11:11 PM	#1
jlazo Citizen Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Posts: 203	Hermits causing trouble... I just added my three baby maximas from Jeff's, My hermits were all over them! Right when I saw this I removed them and placed them in my sump. How many people are not using hermits? Will this harm or help my tank? Thanks! ------------------ Jeffrey "We learn wisdom by seeing the misfortune of others" ------------- Check out my website! http://www.reeflovers.org/~jlazo

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05-09-2001, 11:50 PM	#2
naser super-reefer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SAN DIEGO, CA Posts: 1,908	all over them how? just picking at the sides or on the clam itself? i have snails and hermits that clean the shell of my clams.

05-10-2001, 03:23 AM	#3
cwa46 Tenant Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Nashville, TN 37204 Posts: 83	I have no idea whether the hermits were doing the clams any damage, but I no longer keep them. I have far more diversity without them and many fry and eggs now survive to maturity in my system that the crabs used to kill. Its a matter of personal choice on what you want your tank to be.

05-10-2001, 05:08 AM	#4
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,315	Im still using hermits and they do help with some of the algae still! [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] but every once in a while I see one picking on a snail or if I see a big one 1"+ then I might remove it (there are about 3 in my sump/ref) My snails outnumber the crabs though right now about 3 to 1 and most of my snails are trochus which hold their own fairly well and most of my crabs are micro crabs (less than an inch) This creates an excellent ratio IMO and has had very few casualities, I have a couple of crabs that are on the clams, however they are just cleaning the mantle [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] ------------------ Check out my NEW website Scubadude's Website Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. [This message has been edited by scubadude (edited 05-10-2001).]

05-10-2001, 06:33 AM	#5
golfish Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Alta Loma,Ca Posts: 2,943	don't worry about it. The clams are something new in the tank and the hermits are just seeing if there's anything good to eat...... Did you do your baby clam research? Mark

05-10-2001, 07:58 AM	#6
Firefish Mayor Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Douglas, Ma Posts: 775	Man, I was just going to post about hermits today...I came home last night to find one of my hermits knuckle deep into one of my smaller snails shell.(say that 10 times fast!)I lost three snails to hermits so far! I've also found hermits picking at my polyps on occasion. I wonder if It would be smart to just remove them all??? Anybody else have hermit problems...? ------------------ "It's better to have a hen tomorrow then an egg today."

05-10-2001, 08:03 AM	#7
naser super-reefer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SAN DIEGO, CA Posts: 1,908	a snail is a prime home for a hermit. snails grow while a hermits shell it stolen from a snail and will not grow anymore. so yes they will eat a snail to get the shell!

05-10-2001, 08:05 AM	#8
Firefish Mayor Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Douglas, Ma Posts: 775	Ya, but the snail was half its size...the hermit can't fit into its shell.

05-10-2001, 08:31 AM	#9
reefhead Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: st.petersburg,Fl. Posts: 1,513	Hermits will eat anything,I have 1 in my system. watch them closly joe ------------------ My Reef Tank :fish:

05-10-2001, 05:58 PM	#10
Caesar Augustus Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Birmingham,AL U.S.A. Posts: 980	I have heard them refered to as "reef terrorists". I keep a few in each tank but if any get big its, see ya[img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img] IMHO, Napoleon

05-10-2001, 09:18 PM	#11
djheywood Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: El Segundo, CA Posts: 367	Not only did my hermits eat everything, they would constantly crawl over everything pissing off my corals. I removed all of them except 3 small ones. (Less than 1 inch) I had several 2 inchers for a while but they were just a nuisance. Just a side note, watch any cleaner shrimp and lawnmower blennies with clams. ------------------ http://www.ssaland.com/reefpages/reefhome.htm

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05-11-2001, 01:30 AM	#12
Ockers Tenant Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: London Posts: 81	I have about 20 or so in my reef plus an uninvited army of hitchhikers who have an annoying habit of transplanting corals!!. I only have softies & LPS in the tank so just let them get on with it. Makes life more interesting.