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Thread: Hermit Crabs

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    Hermit Crabs

    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,

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    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.

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    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.
    If you can't change the world, change history- TRT

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    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.
    Learning is a lifelong process

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    Citizen showfish's Avatar
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    P.S. I would recommed 1 snail per 5 gals. to start.
    Learning is a lifelong process

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    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!
    Bubba
    Hmmm... now that the tank is full, I could convert the pool to saltwater...
    Bubba's Aquarium Log

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    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”
    Learning is a lifelong process

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

    Just tell your wife that having a tank teaches you all sorts of new DIY skills...which will save lots of money around the house...so you can buy more stuff for your tank...so you can learn more skills...


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    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.
    Greg

    14 gallon BioCube, modified to accept Maxijet 600
    75 gallon reef with 29 gallon sump/fuge, Barr Aquatic Skimmer, Iwaki 100, Mag 7 return, Hamilton T-5 lighting
    375 gallon tank....... SOLD
    675 gallon wood tank in design phase.

    Over time science has shown that the simplest answers are usually the correct ones.......


 

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