Hermit crabs or not??

[Lady G]

Ok, I would like opinions on hermit crabs...if you've had them please vote and let me know your thoughts on them. I am trying to come up with a starting cleaning crew, and am split on these guy's...thought maybe a poll of like em or don't may help...with a few opinions to go with it.

Thanks all!!

[strangerdejavu]

Even though I have a bunch of them... I have to vote no. They ARE interesting to watch, but I think my snails do a better job of cleaning up, and they're not vicious! Plus you have to put shells in there for them to upgrade to (kindof annoying) and the big ones will pick on corals and snails for no particular reason. I do like to keep micro bluelegs in my sump to munch on cyano, and they don't do my snails any damage (yet).

Suggestions for snails - ceriths, turbos (especially the zebra variety), astreas, narite, and nassarius. The nassarius are very cool - they burrow in the sand, then come out when food is present - very entertaining! And they're faster than my hermits!

[Catpicklesdog]

I have red legged, blue legged and I've got some striped legged hermits and the only problem I've had so far is when one of my snails tipped over and the crabs got to it before me. They also played a huge part in clearing my algae problem.

I'd recommend a mixture of crabs and snails.

[Sarra]

I run a nano with just hermits, and they do fine so far. :D I'd recommend the blue legged ones over the red or striped. The red legged hermits are omnivores, the blue legged are mostly algae eaters; the striped ones will actively hunt. :p

On an odd note, the brand new striped legged hermit just ate an aiptasia, I was amazed and amused at the same time.

[vorlx]

I have only had a couple isolated problems with some Rogue crabs attacking some of my snails. I have plenty of shells for them. I just toss the Rogues in my Refugium and all works out. I love them though so I would reccomend.

[Charlesr1958]

They are free ranging crabs, and being omnivores I would rather not have destructive predators eating what is supposed to be trying to make a reef, a reef. (other inverts).

Chuck

[fishcatch22]

mine did a pretty good job keeping algae down in my tank, and are pretty entertaining to watch... I havent seen them around recently, im afraid my CBS got at them :/

[JohnLin]

I'm anti-hermie

[Reefscape]

I'm anti-hermie


I'm Niko, Pleasure to meet you Anti ;)

[saltydunc]

ive a few common hermits in my system with no problems....but have read about other guys having problems.....guess its trial and error with the hermits.

[jagr200]

NO HERMITS! They are not reef safe and will kill snails because the shell is bigger. Get a sally light foot crab or a porcelain crab.

[FeatherDuster]

Yup, hermits are a hit or miss. I don't like hermits in nano tanks (too destructive), but they do have benefits in large aquariums. For example. Say a fish goes missing in your 100G and you are pretty sure its dead. Rather than have the fish decay while you are looking for it, your cleanup crew can take care of the body pretty fast if you have a decent amount of hermits.

[Lady G]

Thank you everyone for your replies!!! I appreciate everyones input, I still have a few more days before deciding and all thoughts are being considered.

[Reefscape]

NO HERMITS! They are not reef safe and will kill snails because the shell is bigger. Get a sally light foot crab or a porcelain crab.


Thats not correct, hermit crabs are reef safe in general terms. When people experience them killing a snail, that is down to the tank owner to ensure adequate shells are provided, not the species of hermit.

Thanks

Niko

[Grins]

Any wild guesses on which option I chose? :lipssealedsmilie:

[Grins]

Thats not correct, hermit crabs are reef safe in general terms. When people experience them killing a snail, that is down to the tank owner to ensure adequate shells are provided, not the species of hermit.

Thanks

Niko

Eh Niko, them killing snails isn't always a result of them not having shells to move into. And as well learn, reef safe is never a guarantee that anything will be problem free in a reef.

[Reefscape]

Eh Niko, them killing snails isn't always a result of them not having shells to move into. And as well learn, reef safe is never a guarantee that anything will be problem free in a reef.


Not saying it is Grins...I am simply trying to get across that they are not the predators that people label them as, in "general" terms...Both these variety of hermits have been used in captive reefs for many years, and with great effect and success...

[Grins]

Yes I agree, and out of all of them out there I'd dare to use a scarlett leg one before any other. I suppose I just watched mine kill for sport too many times in a short period of time to trust the little buggers.

[Lady G]

Well, so far it looks as though "like em" is winning. I think I will at least give them a try. I do realize I will need to add various shells for them to try and help get them to leave my shrimp alone. I believe they are worth at least a try and I will keep a close eye on them, if I see anything going on...I will just take them back to the LFS.

Thank you all!!!!!!!!!!

[Sarra]

They're fun as all get out to watch too. :D They're quite maneuverable, even with a big, bulky shell.

[gatotsu77]

NO HERMITS! They are not reef safe and will kill snails because the shell is bigger. Get a sally light foot crab or a porcelain crab.

The porcelains are pretty... if I do start a 10g nano, I very well may consider getting one of those. :-) What is your opinion (or anyone's) on the Decorator crab - Camposcia retusa? They're simply fascinating to watch... but I can't find any real conclusive evidence as to whether they're reef safe or not. I know they'll snip a few polyps and put them on themselves, but are they genuinely destructive, or will they stop once they're camouflaged? As the tank will likely have one or no fish, would a Camposcia retusa be ok in a 10g nano reef? How about a 29g reef?

[Lady G]

The porcelains are pretty... if I do start a 10g nano, I very well may consider getting one of those. :-) What is your opinion (or anyone's) on the Decorator crab - Camposcia retusa? They're simply fascinating to watch... but I can't find any real conclusive evidence as to whether they're reef safe or not. I know they'll snip a few polyps and put them on themselves, but are they genuinely destructive, or will they stop once they're camouflaged? As the tank will likely have one or no fish, would a Camposcia retusa be ok in a 10g nano reef? How about a 29g reef?

I was wondering about the decorators too. LOL, I just want them ALL!!!

[gatotsu77]

I've done a little bit more reading about them, and I've gotten mixed answers. (as I suspect we may have mixed opinions on AC, but hey, that's part of the fun, right?) I may give it a shot if I do a 10g nano, but I likely wouldn't have any fish with it. If I did, it would be something very small, and likely just one fish. To be honest, since the tank is so small, I'm mostly interested in coral and inverts. Based on what I've heard about them, I may consider a single yellow watchman too, but that one's iffy.

[JOSEPHLB]

I like 'em..

but..

some can be agressive..

I have an electric blue that will reach up with his greedy little claws and take food out of my finger tips..

he is pretty much scared of nothing

[Lady G]

I like 'em..

but..

some can be agressive..

I have an electric blue that will reach up with his greedy little claws and take food out of my finger tips..

he is pretty much scared of nothing

LOL, that is GREAT!!!!

[VickyH]

I have hermits in my big tank and my nano, in the nano I did "lose" a few snails but been okin big tank, as someone said before it was only cos the crab got to an upside down one before I did. I love watching my hermits manouvre themselves round the rockwork and sat staring one night as one blue legged swopped between 2 shells 6 times! Must have been a female one as it ended up in the one it started in! I have to say though my porcelain crab is my favourite - it attacked my urchin once but stuck to one of it's sucker things - all caught on camera and very funny to watch! I have plenty of spare big shells in my tank at all times and can safely say I've only ever seen one hermit in one of my snails shells.
I also have a yellow watchman and he is GREAT! If anything comes too close to his hole in the rockwork he flares open his gills, opens his mouth right up to make himself look bigger and charges at them, even the yellow tang!!