hermit crabs, good or bad?

[Josh Weber]

hey everyone,
i got about twelve hermit crabs for mr 56 gallon reef about 2 weeks ago, all different types, since i put them in there, i haven't seen any snails what-so-ever. i used to have a lot in my tank. i am feeding the same, and my corals/fish are looking/eating fine. i read that they are bad if you are keeping hammers, anchors, grape, frogspawn, and touch corals. is there any other corals out there that could be hurt by them.
also do you guys think that there is any relation with my snails disapering? thank you for your comments,
josh

 

[Len]

Hey Josh,

I don't trust crabs Most will eat snails. I haven't had problems with them harming corals or fish.

 

[Josh Weber]

hey len,
i always thought they were good though??
josh

 

[Unarce]

The blue-legs have a tendency to kill snails for their shells. I've always avoided the brown or grey kind. Scarlet hermits are the most peaceful, I've kept. I haven't heard of them bothering the type of corals you listed.

If you don't need them, I'd just avoid them altogether. I feel snails are more efficient at algae control and scavenging.

 

[Len]

Hey Josh,
Some people like hermit crabs and consider them good. I don't care for them myself.

 

[Josh Weber]

ok, i got yea. thanks for the info guys!!
josh

 

[Talonstorm]

I have around 12 hermits in my tank. They are very small, but do have blue legs. They all came with the same type of distinct shell. Recently I have seen 3 of them tooling around in coralline covered shells that used to belong to my snails. So, I would definately second that they will kill snails to get their shells. All of mine might be finding new homes soon. :roll:

Tina

 

[Anonymous]

I've never had a problem with hermits, but I do not keep many. In my 110 I had 5 in my 60 I had 4. If you keep some empty shells of different sizes you may keep them from attacking snails.

 

[Anonymous]

They are the devil. They kill snails IME.
_________________
Honda VFR750R

 

[Anonymous]

you must provide hermits with empty shells to move into to help avoid snail eating.

I dont think they are that usefull in general, especially in sand bed tanks, but I like them for crushed coral substrate, as they do great job of "overturning" the top layer while they forage.

I also like them for removing/eating anything dead, as well as cleaning out the molts of coral banded shrimps etc...

I have seen them on occassion nipping on a snail, but I'll take that to have more variety in the tank. They are fun to watch, and the kids focus in on them pretty quickly, as they are familiar to most kids readily.

I have around 4 scarlet, 10 blue legged and a couple of very large zebra.

 

[Josh Weber]

so i think the best ones to get would be some scarlets (if any). they are the most peaceful and, i think, are the best looking.
thanks a lot for the info!!!!!
josh

 

[fishaddict]

the best to get would be none at all. All my dwarf hermits have donned snail shells.

 

[Anonymous]

I like my hermits. Even though 2 of them are now wearing snail shells. But considering my snails are laying eggs, I have no fear of running out of them any time soon.

 

[Omni2226]

Now can you honestly look into the eyes of this little Hermy and say

"You are an evil and vile creature! Off to be blenderized into fishfood you go! "

...Mmm? Can you?

 

[FragMaster]

Yes. Just because he wont eat red slime alage LOL!!!

 

[MartinE]

I have 2 blue leg hermits (Clibanarius tricolor) in my tank, been there for a year and I still have the same amount of "aquarist added" snails I had a year ago as well. Never have noticed any bad behavior from this type of hermit.

 

[FragMaster]

Clibanarius tricolor.


Seriously? Never has attacked a snail for its shell?

 

[Rob Top]

I removed all my crabs and throw them to the sump. When I was a newbie I was told 1 per gallon, same with snails. I now believe that the LFS said that to sell me more stuff and have me come back over and over again for snails. Best way to get them out is to add some snails to a easily accessed spot in the tank. They will come running. The responce to how fast they move towards the addition of snails makes me believe its for food, not homes.

 

[SavetheReefs]

And the misinformation continues.

Here are some facts.

Astrea snails and blue leg hermits come from the same habitat (Florida).
When I get blue legs in by the thousand not a single one of them have an astrea snail shell.
Snails die very easily in the home aquarium due to lack of food.

Now make your own conclusions.

SavetheReefs

 

[MartinE]

Clibanarius tricolor.


Seriously? Never has attacked a snail for its shell?

Always had trouble with scientific names

Yes really. Possibly it is because my snails are Astreas, or that I added a few snail shells to keep them with new homes.