My crabs are eating my Turbos

[thirty5]

My larger blue legged hermits have been feasting on my snails. I am assuming that the crabs are not getting enough to eat. I have to say that i do FEED alot but i guess not enough. Should i feed the crabs with like some raw shrimp or something????

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

They tend to do this to get the shells as well.

 

[DevIouS]

Most go with Scarlet hermits because they are less aggressive.
They might be taking your snails out for thier shell.

 

[DevIouS]

:arg: I am getting slow!
:snail:

 

[thirty5]

WOW you are quick. Before i hit post i think you replied already LOL

I have heard that, but the shells are just laying there empty now. A few have been for weeks, i am not gonna take them out so that the crabs can move in, but i dont want to have to keep replacing the turbos (they do such a nice time keeping glass clean)

 

[DevIouS]

They have to try on to make sure it fits.
If not.....well:

 

[thirty5]

Damn,
i dont want to have to take them out. I already had to give away my condi cause it was killing my mushrooms. My kids got upset, they will get mad if i get rid of the BIG BLUE ONES as they say.

 

[Deanos]

How old is the system? There may not be sufficient macroalgae/microalgae for the crabs (increasing their desire to eat snails) or for the snails (weakening them making them more vulnerable to hungry crabs).

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

It's survival of the fittest. Keep that in mind. Anyone with hermits has turbo casualties.

 

[e.muehlbauer]

Most likely the snails were weakened, and probably would have died anyway. First, the snails may not have enough of the right type of algae to eat...there may be plenty in the tank, but what they need nutritionally may be in short supply...possibly there is a change in water chemistry- turbo's are far more susceptible to chemistry changes than hermits or fish. They could have fallen down- turbo's and astreas have trouble righting them selves when they fall on their backs and there's nothing to grab on to. When a hermit sees a snail in this position, they go for it. Sometimes the crab inadvertantly rights the snail, in which case the snail is fine. If the snail weakens, the crab wins. Take care, Eric

 

[thirty5]

Ok,
Thanks for the info guys. My tank is like 8 months now. Is there anything that i can do to increase the nutrients for the snails. Or is it a good thing that i dont have enough for them to eat??

 

[House of Laughter]

It's survival of the fittest. Keep that in mind. Anyone with hermits has turbo casualties.

This sums it up - either don't keep them together or accept the losses.. I just accept the losses cause pods love to live in the empty shells as well.

House

 

[thirty5]

I will accept the losses. No big deal, i was just curious if this was normal. Someone said that there might be plenty of algae. I actually have NONE that is visible. Other than coraline. No green algea at all. And when tehre is a tiny amount on the glass it is gobbled up by the snails..

 

[emps]

Learned with the nano, no hermits in the 55g. The empty shells all over the place irk me.

 

[meschaefer]

Generally, I have a no crab policy. I have a few scarlets that I have had for years, but I do not replace them anymore.

 

[kenske]

Mee Too. No hermits in my tank. All they do is kill my snails and knock things over. Useless, IMO. There are many other scavengers to choose from.

 

[kenske]

oh i almost forgot...

they also trample over my corals causing them to close. I really hate hermits.

 

[crox99]

My hermit killed a queen conch!!!!

 

[marki24]

It's survival of the fittest. Keep that in mind. Anyone with hermits has turbo casualties.

I can argue against that. If you have enough shells you will not have that problem.

thirty5 i notice that you are far from me but if you ever in brooklyn and need shells LMK i have plenty.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I can argue against that.

You would.