Hermit Crabs

[sergeantbiggs]

How Many hermits crabs should i have in a 55g Tank, There seems to be plenty of green hair algea to eat. I only have two would more be recommended. I saw on liveaquaria.com it recommened up to 12,

[mc-cro]

I have heard estimates of anywhere from 1 per gallon to 1 per 5 gallon.

I started with the 1 per gallon years ago. after about 6 months, I had about 1 per 5 gallons.

[greenbean36191]

I wouldn't recommend any. They're all opportunistic, and IME sooner or later they're going to cause trouble of some sort or another. They can't do anything that snails can't either, so I stick with snails.

In any case, when you're stocking a clean-up crew start on the low side of the estimates and slowly increase as you need more. It doesn't make much sense to spend $100 on hermits and snails to have $50 worth starve to death.

[showfish]

I would also go with snails, and not crabs. In my first saltwater tank, I had a mix of snails and crabs, and it was a constant battle. Of course the crabs being victorious over the snails, killing them. Man I think I'm watching to many Bowl games.

[showfish]

P.S. I would recommed 1 snail per 5 gals. to start.

[BubbaWPB]

I just picked the last of my hermits outta my 75 gallon and tossed them in the refugium... they ate my queen conch, then wore her shell around as a trophy! YOU B*******S!

[showfish]

Sorry to hear of her demise Bubba, not a pleasant way to go. I think someone on this forum has a signature that reads “Just say no to crabs”

[Reefland]

They are a bunch of bullies and I too recommend staying away from them. If they get the chance, they will attack!

[CSeaSee]

I'd go with emerald crabs, if you're going to go with a biological control. Of course, fixing the source of your hair algae (i.e. excess nutrients) is a better idea...

[The R/C Man]

It is definitly a balancing game that's for sure. I always recommend just adding the clean up crew a few at a time. As greenbean said, if you add to many they will starve. Also the tank will settle down over time and the ecosystem will become balanced. Personally I like a couple of the hermits walking around for astetic reasons. I just ensure they are fed by adding some pellet food that sinks to the bottom.