Small hermit crab feeding protocol?

[CallMeChris]

Tank Info: 10g, 3 weeks old, Live Base Rock and Live Sand from TBS, the sand and rocks had small hermit crab hitchhikers (Iridopagurus reticulatus Reticulated Hermit Crab.)

4 of them that I have seen are about an inch or so large, and have seen some really small ones, and I’m sure many unseen. Didn’t feed at all the first week, fed some the second week, this past week fed 3 to 5 small pellets most days.

I feel like I’m just guessing here on how much to feed. The live rock and sand obviously has stuff in it for them, so I’m being cautious on how much food I am putting into the system. I figure long as Nitrates aren’t spiking I’m good.

But I don’t want them going after the snails…

My parameters are good, Nitrates holding at 20 for the last few days.

Suggestions?

 

[CallMeChris]

Full tank shot from today, in case that helps.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I'm not sure how much to feed the little guys, but feeding some high quality, meaty foods (like frozen or sinking pellets) for them and supplementing with something like a sinking algae pellet or nori strapped down for them is a good idea to keep them healthy and happy.

 

[CallMeChris]

I'm not sure how much to feed the little guys, but feeding some high quality, meaty foods (like frozen or sinking pellets) for them and supplementing with something like a sinking algae pellet or nori strapped down for them is a good idea to keep them healthy and happy.

Currently using these pellets. Will try nori, sounds fun

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Currently using these pellets. Will try nori, sounds fun

Looking at the ingredients and guaranteed analysis for the Crab Cuisine there, I'd personally switch foods (see the quotes below). I'm nots sure what the exact nutrition requirements are for hermits - or, more particularly, for this species - but, assuming they're more similar to shrimp (see the bottom quote) than fish, you may want something higher in both protein and fat and which has a wider variety of nutritious feeds in it:

Personally, my suggested feeds would be as follows (I apologize, I haven't looked into frozen algae-heavy feeds enough to have one that I would suggest at this point; I'll have to remedy that):
Frozen (Meaty) - LRS Reef Frenzy, Hikari Mega Marine, then Rod's Original.

Pellets (Meaty) - Otohime, then TDO Chromaboost.
Pellets (Algal) - NLS Marine Fish Pellets (has 8 types of algae and one terrestrial plant).

Generally, from what I've seen with shrimp aquaculture, things like frozen pods or enriched frozen brine shrimp are great for shrimp; a high quality frozen or pellet feed would work well too (preferably with ~60% or more crude protein and ~10-15% crude fat content with plenty of good fatty acids - that high of a protein content is pretty hard to come by with available feeds though, so for a generic feed that'd be pretty good for shrimp and really good for fish, I'd settle for one that's over 50% crude protein).

 

[JasonVH]

Not sure how much supplemental feeding either. I do occasionally/irregularly 'spot feed' the hermits the same foods intended for fish, using tongs for the frozen foods. Most of them will quickly grab food off tongs. I do this because the hermits keep the rocks very clean and I try to feed the fish minimally- no bits floating around after the fish are not wanting any more.

I'd check to make sure the pellets aren't too high in phosphates- some dry food seem to be a bit high on phosphates. If you already have good quality pellets made for marine fish in mind, use those rather than things marketed for crabs/shrimps as they seem mostly intended for land or freshwater. It won't harm them, the main concern is the amount and what kind of input these pellets are adding to the tank.

They do enjoy nori tied down and left on the bottom with easy access for them. Tiny pieces of frozen fish is especially popular.

 

[EricR]

Keep in mind that if they're growing, they'll go after snails for their shell as well.
Empty shells of appropriate size/type for the type of hermits you have might also help (maybe).

 

[exnisstech]

But I don’t want them going after the snails…

I wish you luck. My hermits have always turned to snails eventually regardless how much I feed. It seems like if mine aren't killing snails they're fighting each other.

 

[jabberwock]

It is all about shell warfare. At my LFS they have a bin of small empty shells, but there is something about shell envy. If it is walking around, they want it...