Blue Hermit Eating everything in sight

[Anonymous]

I have a blue hermit that I got mixed in with plain ol' algea eating hermits. He has been in the tank a while, but recently I noticed that the feather dusters that came with my live rock have been disapearing, along with several Nasarius Snails. All this time I thought he was harmless but he turns out to be satan in a small package.

I dunno what he is exactly, but I think he has to go.

:edit: I caught him eating one of the snails

 

[Len]

I've never met a crab I could trust

 

[ded08221]

having a blue leg or reg legged hermit...you will always be risking a few snails. IMOE

 

[hillbilly]

Take him out and squash him! Makes a cool crunch sound!

 

[Anonymous]

Already took him out. He has since been fed to an indirect aquaintence's mantis. He is all by his lonesome in a bare 2.5 gal that I use as a hospital until I figure out what to do with him. the LFS does not want him back.

 

[Len]

If anyone around you has a Harlequin Tusk or Hogfish, it would make a good meal Circle of life ... at least it'd be a death with purpose.

 

[Anonymous]

Never having actually seen a mantis shrimp up close and personal, I am trying to find someone in my immediate area that may have one so I can watch how they hunt and destroy prey. I do know someone with a hogfis though.

The rat bast@!# is not destined for a life of luxury in any case. He ate the only hitchikers that came with my second rate rock (tiny fanworms)

 

[Anonymous]

as an off-topic, has it been your experience that you get more diversity from cured or un-cured rock. I got "Fully Cured" rock that seems to have been fairly barren, but caused only a small quick cycle in my tiny setup

 

[Len]

I buy uncured because I prefer to do the curing myself. Uncured/transshipped rock has more diversity then most cured rock. Too many suppliers scrub their rocks until they are "clean" but barren.

 

[Anonymous]

I think this is what happened here. I was just reading about trans-shipped rock not 10 minutes ago, and am strongly considering it for my upcoming display tank. I assumed that this was the case when I bought the rock locally.

Who would you order rock from if you wanted good chunky pieces with lots of holes and life on the order of 100 - 120 lbs?

 

[Len]

Most of the rocks come from the same few collectors, so I'd choose some place close to you for cheaper delivery. I think Marine Depot might be your best bet. Just ask for transhipped (or "raw") rock that come 44-46lbs per box. You can cure it in a rubbermaid container yourself to preserve as much diversity on it as possible. It is staggering what life pops out of good rock.

 

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn't I cure it during the cycle process of the tank? I assume on a larger tank that the cycle will tak 2+ months or so, and the dead stuff would feed the cycle no?

 

[Len]

The problem with transhipped rock is A LOT of die-off occurs. While some people do cure them in the main tank, I really wouldn't want all that decaying detritus left over. Also, curing it in a seperate container allows me to find and isolate any unwanted critters like Mantis shrimps. One way is fill the container only with about 4" of water and use a pump and spray bar to keep the top rocks moist (you can elevate the rocks above the bottom of the container for greater effectiveness). Do this for 3-4 days and all the crabs and worms will migrate down to the bottom. You can then pick and choose what goes in

 

[Anonymous]

That is slick, I think I may try that. I think I can set something up where a large rubbermaid tub or two can be thier own sump and the rock elevated above the bottom with cut-down milk crates and basically run a skimmer and spraybar. I imagine I will have to contilually adjust salinity?

Thanks for your input on this

 

[Len]

Just add enough water to top off what evaps (and yes, a lot will evap). Checking salinity daily is a good idea.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all together (prices from 3 - 4 dollars # compared to 6) this should save me quite a bit of money and force me to build a couple of small curing vats (which should be handy). Thanks for the advice

 

[Anonymous]

Damn you guys are harsh...wow..I love my little hermits..Im doubting the hermits ate the feather dusters..snails yes! there really is no hunting with a mantis, depending on the species, but mine just straight out rushes its prey and attacks..no stalking, no hunting, outright malling

 

[Anonymous]

I still want to see it

I love most of my hermits, but only one of 6 tiny fans remain. even the stalks are gone

 

[Anonymous]

www.blueboard.com

 

[Anonymous]

I've been all through that site. I have been stalking the mantis board since it's inception.

I may choose my live rock based on the region most likely to have mantis stow-aways. I have watched a couple of Discovery channel type things that discussed them, but did not know about anyone keeping one until I started reading reefer boards