Killer Hermits ???

[SaltTank]

Hi ... I have 13.5 gallon Evo and for the CUC I have (6) blue leg hermits (4) scarlet hermits (5) nassarius snails and (3) astrea.

I had an emerald crab but I witnessed him munching on my corals so removed him.

However now I'm seeing some of the hermit crab occupying the shells of what used to be nassarius snails. Do hermits kill nassarious snails and if so what do I need to do to prevent this? My tank is 6weeks old but the rocks are covered in algae. I don't want to broadcast feed the tank, so I only feed once a day what my (2) clowns eat in 5min.

Is this normal?

Are there:

• too many snails
• wrong type of snails
• underfed snails, if so how do i feed and also prevent ammonia spikes
• other options

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 8.4

​

 

[shwareefer]

Do hermits kill nassarious snails and if so what do I need to do to prevent this?

Yes, crabs in general are opportunists. To prevent it, don't have crabs.

Sounds like you don't have enough desireable algae. That's why emerald eating coral and hermits killing snails.

If you insist on having crabs, red legs are less obnoxious than blue legs.

I don't keep any crabs period.

 

[SaltTank]

interesting @shwareefer but can you still have an effective clean up crew without crabs. What do you use for a CuC without crabs in the mix?

 

[shwareefer]

interesting @shwareefer but can you still have an effective clean up crew without crabs. What do you use for a CuC without crabs in the mix

I currently have ceriths, astreas, and a money cowrie. They're doing the job.

 

[Spare time]

I am cautious to blame crabs for anything as people use them as scapegoats.

 

[ZoWhat]

Hermits eating other hermits and

This world is coming to an end, Mayor

 

[Stackrat]

Hi ... I have 13.5 gallon Evo and for the CUC I have (6) blue leg hermits (4) scarlet hermits (0) nassarius snails and (0) astrea.

There, I fixed your first sentence for you.

 

[Azedenkae]

I saw with my own eyes a hermit crab kill another entirely healthy crab, scattered its remains across the tank, then move on like it was nothing. Didn't even take the shell. It also killed a few snails. Again, did not take the shell, though this time it did seem to eat at least some of the snails.

Then there was an emerald crab that kept trying to pick at algae but there were not enough. So it went and started to try and eat my coral.

Perks of having my tank basically right there where I work. I get to actually see with my own eyes all this occurring.

 

[Starganderfish]

I have a small yellow leg hermit in each of my tanks (4 gal and 20 gal) and they've both been model citizens, hoovering up algae and detritus. (Only ever seen the yellows around Aus, no reds or blues)
3 days ago, I added a slightly larger yellow leg to my 20 gal. The next day I found the empty shell of one of my nassarius snails on the sand. I was suspicious but not positive so kept an eye out, a few hours later I watched as the new hermit pulled a nassarius snail out of the sand, flip it over and started prying the snail out of its shell. I scooped him up quick and the snail quickly reburied himself and the hermit has been banished. Plenty of food in the tank and a bunch of empty shells - the Nasarrius was smaller than the hermit so I doubt it was looking for a shell.
Some crabs are just ******s.
The two smaller hermits are still in their respective tanks and behaving perfectly though so there's simply no way to tell what will happen.
My CUC crew is several large Trochus, a bunch of small turbos, a bunch of nassarius snails in the sand, pods growing in the chaeto in the sump, and the lone well-behaved hermits. I just added some coral banded shrimp to the 20 to help with detritus (and cause they look cool) and I'm pretty much waiting to see if they start preying on the tank as well.
I'll be adding a sand-sifting goby to turn over the substrate. But I'm calling it quits and no more hermits. It's a shame because they are probably the best algae grazers and cleaners for a small tank but I just can't trust them. Really hoping the shrimp behave themselves as well.
The Trochus and turbo's do a decent job though and the nassarius' rising out of the substrate to feed are really cool.

 

[CrimsonTide]

The only crabs I have are emeralds and they live in my LPS pretty much. If you're not okay losing snails to hermits then I would get rid of the hermits and get snails. You're gonna need more snails anyway because you need more glass cleaners than what you have. I use astrea cerith turbos trochus and nassarius. If a snail dies my nassarius don't like to eat their friends for some reason gotta work on that but im general I stay away from hermits and employ a peppermint shrimp female emerald crabs and all snails with great success.

 

[flyingscampi]

I have a pet hermit in a 15 gallon I've been running for a year now.

Shells and hair algae are essential to keep a hermit crab happy. When you introduce hermits, always put in lots of spare shells. They will grow quickly and need a range of sizes from 1 to 4 cm and maybe larger. They will move into shells you think are impossibly large.

I've found that Trochus snails are OK with the hermit as they spin their shells to defend themselves and can self-right.

Whenever I put new shells in, my crab will examine every single one. It really is a hobby for them.

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

I saw with my own eyes a hermit crab kill another entirely healthy crab, scattered its remains across the tank, then move on like it was nothing. Didn't even take the shell. It also killed a few snails. Again, did not take the shell, though this time it did seem to eat at least some of the snails.

Then there was an emerald crab that kept trying to pick at algae but there were not enough. So it went and started to try and eat my coral.

Perks of having my tank basically right there where I work. I get to actually see with my own eyes all this occurring.

Similar to you, I had a red-legged hermit pull all the legs off another red-legged hermit and just leave him like that in the shell. Then caught him in the act of pulling the claws off another of his brothers but this time was able to intervene in time to save the poor guy. It's been at least 4 molts and that crab still hasn't completely regrown his claws, he basically has two half claws (and he turned blue). Hermits can definitely be aggressive.

Should add that I have tons of empty shells in the tank of all sizes.

 

[Dburr1014]

Hi ... I have 13.5 gallon Evo and for the CUC I have (6) blue leg hermits (4) scarlet hermits (5) nassarius snails and (3) astrea.

I had an emerald crab but I witnessed him munching on my corals so removed him.

However now I'm seeing some of the hermit crab occupying the shells of what used to be nassarius snails. Do hermits kill nassarious snails and if so what do I need to do to prevent this? My tank is 6weeks old but the rocks are covered in algae. I don't want to broadcast feed the tank, so I only feed once a day what my (2) clowns eat in 5min.

Is this normal?

Are there:

• too many snails
• wrong type of snails
• underfed snails, if so how do i feed and also prevent ammonia spikes
• other options

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 8.4

​

Drop in some various sizes of empty snail shells. As hermits get bigger they need a new house. It just might save a life!

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I have a 200litre aquarium (44gal)
I have numerous, I say about 30 different varieties of hermits and snails,
Dwarf, blue, electric.. my biggest Halloween, however from research on reef2reef posts and I think it works.
Offer your hermits a variety of shells to move into, I have 20+ (empty) shells all the time and change 'every couple of weeks' . if you provide extra housing for hermits they will not eat others (as often) to find a shell, you need to provide a good variety, as small as they are they can carry big (like ants), just place them in a corner they will turn them and try them out like a wedding dress

 

[bobnicaragua]

I've always had lots of hermits. The only ones that were really a problem were the "Halloween Hermits" striped with one giant claw. Once they got big enough, they would flip snails and try to eat them. I had to banish them to the sump...

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I've always had lots of hermits. The only ones that were really a problem were the "Halloween Hermits" striped with one giant claw. Once they got big enough, they would flip snails and try to eat them. I had to banish them to the sump...

Yes just sharing, not my post

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

I have a 200litre aquarium (44gal)
I have numerous, I say about 30 different varieties of hermits and snails,
Dwarf, blue, electric.. my biggest Halloween, however from research on reef2reef posts and I think it works.
Offer your hermits a variety of shells to move into, I have 20+ (empty) shells all the time and change 'every couple of weeks' . if you provide extra housing for hermits they will not eat others (as often) to find a shell, you need to provide a good variety, as small as they are they can carry big (like ants), just place them in a corner they will turn them and try them out like a wedding dress

Just to add to this, different types of hermits tend to prefer different shapes, not just the upper part of the shell but the opening shape in particular. Some shells have slit openings, some have circular openings, and some have d-shaped openings. Most of my red and blue legged guys like circles but one red likes d-shaped best. Somebody always has to be special!