View Full Version : Red Hairy Legged Hermit mad :(
Hey All,
So my Red Hairy Legged Hermit was too aggressive for my 75 gallon tank, eating my plants, snails, nibbling my starfish, etc. and I didn't want to get rid of it so I cleaned out an empty 10 gallon tank I had set it up and he's in there now. I wasn't prepared (mentally or financially) to set up a 20+ gallon so i went with what I had. He's been in there only since this afternoon but he's trying like heck to find a way out. It makes me feel really bad to see him on his side trying to climb up the corners, and the fact that he went from more space to wander and hide in a 75 gallon to now a little 10 (though he has it all to himself). Do you think this is normal since he was just moved? Will he maybe settle in after a couple days, maybe if I add some snails, plants, or something for him to nibble on, etc? My hope is to eventually upgrade to maybe a 20 gallon but right now a 75 gallon is all I can handle.
Thanks
VTEEL
Horchata
03-31-2008, 8:26 PM
hmmmm..... if theres nothing else in the 10, i'd say thats normal. maybe throw a piece of live rock in the 10, and see how he does.
alpha123
03-31-2008, 9:24 PM
yeah, live rock would be good. Something for him to hold on to.
cliftonsinclair
03-31-2008, 9:33 PM
Am I reading this wrong or are you going to let him nibble on some snails?
That kind of crab will certainly nibble on snails.
I had a similar situation until I got tired of it and took the bloody thing back to my LFS.
rdfriend
03-31-2008, 10:16 PM
I had the same problem and moved mine to a 20 and he's been great. And yes, even though I feed him well as I do all my creatures he still munches on a snail from time to time. It's called nature. What's the difference between that and brine shrimp or copepods or even frozen cubes or flakes that were all once living creatures?
cliftonsinclair
04-01-2008, 7:59 AM
I wasn't saying that it was cruel. I eat crabs and fish. Here where I live the cheapest snail is $6. That is kind of an expensive snack if you ask me.
rdfriend
04-02-2008, 12:36 AM
I wasn't saying that it was cruel. I eat crabs and fish. Here where I live the cheapest snail is $6. That is kind of an expensive snack if you ask me.
I see...sorry. Much cheaper here. I can usually get nassarius for a buck a piece, ceriths for 2 buck a piece, astreas a buck and a half and I think turbos for around 2.50. I am in Florida. My LFS lately has had deals such as buy 8 nassarius get 2 free and blue leg hermits buy 10 at a buck a piece and get 5 free.
ChangDriX
04-02-2008, 1:14 AM
oh god don't let grins see this :)
I have 30+ hermits (blue leg, red leg, dwarf whites) i've never seen mine attack a snail but there only a buck or 1.50 where ever you go around me....but you setup a 10 gal for only one hermit? dang your nice....
oh god don't let grins see this :)
:silly:
AnnetteG
04-09-2008, 11:36 AM
I'd swap him to someone in the local reef club who wants him and has a snail or blue leg or something else you want. Maybe a teeny tiny frag. :)
My crab actually seems to be doing alright now. It just molted yesterday and I would assume that if it was stressed or unhappy it wouldn't molt, since molting is a healthy thing to do. Right now it seems content and I do plan on upgrading the tank within the next six months or so, so it won't have to be in there too awfully long. I just love it and can't part with it, at least not in the near future. Good idea though nonetheless.
VTEEL
Sploke
04-16-2008, 3:32 PM
I've never actually seen my hermit crabs eat snails, but I will periodically buy a dozen, and usually by a month or so later, I have none. Hermits will be moving out soon, as they don't seem to be adding any real value to the system right now. My new emerald crab, however, goes to town on algae.
AnnetteG
04-16-2008, 4:14 PM
ahhh, didn't realize you loved him. :) I love my hermits too, they're cute. The snail population does seem to be declining though. I've decided not to put crabs in the new tank I'm setting up and just do snails in there.
FeatherDuster
04-17-2008, 12:34 AM
I wish petco would stop selling red hairy hermit crabs for reef tanks. I fell for it. I came home with a cute furry little fella who turned into a spikey evil monster that cost me lots of snails and frags. He was pretty though. They are beautiful hermits and I could see someone placing them in their own tank with suitable tank mates.