Can I add Hermit Crabs from the beach to my aquarium

[itachi86]

I got 3 hermit crabs from the beach here in South FL, the hermit crabs are kind of big. Can they eat my fish? My aquarium is new and my fish are little still
Couple clowns and other little fish like that

 

[blaxsun]

Usually not, but post some images and maybe folks can help with identification.

 

[Spare time]

Are they land hermit crabs or ones that can permanently stay underwater?

 

[itachi86]

Are they land hermit crabs or ones that can permanently stay underwater?

I am not sure. I got them in the water but really close to the shore. Also really shallow water as well

 

[PeterErc]

Large could be thin stripe, orange claw, and the giant with the great big claw

Blue leg and red leg are small

I would be concerned with is the giant eating sleeping fish.

The thin stripe, orange claw reef safe with caution, I would not keep them with a clam

Blue leg are good scavengers and don’t usually cause issues

They are opportunistic feeders and if a fish is ill or dies, it would be easy to think the hermit crab killed it.

You can find spots that are loaded with hermits FWC has regulations

 

[itachi86]

Large could be thin stripe, orange claw, and the giant with the great big claw

Blue leg and red leg are small

I would be concerned with is the giant eating sleeping fish.

The thin stripe, orange claw reef safe with caution, I would not keep them with a clam

Blue leg are good scavengers and don’t usually cause issues

They are opportunistic feeders and if a fish is ill or dies, it would be easy to think the hermit crab killed it.

You can find spots that are loaded with hermits FWC has regulations

 

[itachi86]

Can you see anything from that pic?

 

[itachi86]

Usually not, but post some images and maybe folks can help with identification.

 

[The_Paradox]

In Florida also and have added them in the past. They did fine for at least 3-4 months. They were returned to the sea at that time due to noise. It sounds dumb but they were large enough I could hear them when they were close to the glass and it annoyed me.

 

[itachi86]

In Florida also and have added them in the past. They did fine for at least 3-4 months. They were returned to the sea at that time due to noise. It sounds dumb but they were large enough I could hear them when they were close to the glass and it annoyed me.

Yeah this one does that and I can hear it in the container I have it now

 

[itachi86]

Large could be thin stripe, orange claw, and the giant with the great big claw

Blue leg and red leg are small

I would be concerned with is the giant eating sleeping fish.

The thin stripe, orange claw reef safe with caution, I would not keep them with a clam

Blue leg are good scavengers and don’t usually cause issues

They are opportunistic feeders and if a fish is ill or dies, it would be easy to think the hermit crab killed it.

You can find spots that are loaded with hermits FWC has regulations

I honestly don't see anything blue nor orange

 

[PeterErc]

Thin stripe hermit crab

 

[itachi86]

Thin stripe hermit crab

So is it safe to add it?

 

[blaxsun]

So is it safe to add it?

Only for your fish.

 

[PeterErc]

It most likely wont eat your fish, snails yes and will knock stuff over. There’s much better suited hermits a blue leg hunt may be in order

 

[PeterErc]

You can decide if they are something you want in your tank

thin stripe hermit reef safe - Google Search

 

[itachi86]

All right, thanks to everyone. Doesn't sound like something I want long term in my tank. I will be returning them back to where I found them.

 

[KrisReef]

All right, thanks to everyone. Doesn't sound like something I want long term in my tank. I will be returning them back to where I found them.

IN the future, taking wildlife and then returning them to the wild could expose them to algae, virus, etc from the aquarium trade or other non-native pathogens that are not found in Florida yet.

Don't be that person who "releases wildlife" back into the wild and inadvertently causes an introduction of non-native pathogenic organisms into the Carribean (I think it already has many negative aquarium introductions, including Lionfish).

The RULE: If you take it out of the wild and put it in your tank, it needs to be properly buried to avoid introductions. Don't return stuff "to the wild", a few dead crabs are better than risking introductions from exposure to aquarium trade waters.

The Sea World Parks have pods of Orca's in captivity that will never be released because they have been exposed to captivity, antibiotics, human interaction, and whale shows. The last thing we need in the wild is Orca's jumping over boats trying to get a sardine treat.

Thank you.

 

[blaxsun]

The last thing we need in the wild is Orca's jumping over boats trying to get a sardine treat.

I'd pay good money to see a YouTube video of that...

 

[itachi86]

IN the future, taking wildlife and then returning them to the wild could expose them to algae, virus, etc from the aquarium trade or other non-native pathogens that are not found in Florida yet.

Don't be that person who "releases wildlife" back into the wild and inadvertently causes an introduction of non-native pathogenic organisms into the Carribean (I think it already has many negative aquarium introductions, including Lionfish).

The RULE: If you take it out of the wild and put it in your tank, it needs to be properly buried to avoid introductions. Don't return stuff "to the wild", a few dead crabs are better than risking introductions from exposure to aquarium trade waters.

The Sea World Parks have pods of Orca's in captivity that will never be released because they have been exposed to captivity, antibiotics, human interaction, and whale shows. The last thing we need in the wild is Orca's jumping over boats trying to get a sardine treat.

Thank you.

I have not gone returned them yet. I will leave them in my sump in the refugium or something.