That's how we get it done

[Lavey29]

The crew is out in force today doing some serious cleaning. Keep going boys, special snack coming later for all your hard work.

 

[Tired]

Oo, scarlet reef hermits! Love those guys. Even if they are fussy about shells.

 

[Lavey29]

Oo, scarlet reef hermits! Love those guys. Even if they are fussy about shells.

True they do like a nice large shell but the boys work 24/7.

 

[backbayreef]

True they do like a nice large shell but the boys work 24/7.

Reminds to get some -- I got NONE in my tank!

 

[Lavey29]

Reminds to get some -- I got NONE in my tank!

Scarlets have been very hardy for me and do not mess with my corals at all.

 

[backbayreef]

Scarlets have been very hardy for me and do not mess with my corals at all.

Cool, will try to score some this weekend. I only have urchins and snails -- there are some areas in the rockwork that they can't get thru...

 

[Lavey29]

Cool, will try to score some this weekend. I only have urchins and snails -- there are some areas in the rockwork that they can't get thru...

I just noticed you were OC. I am in the IE here in So Cal too. saltwateraquarium.com has the best inverts like scarlets and their shipping is excellent. Very large specimens.

 

[backbayreef]

I just noticed you were OC. I am in the IE here in So Cal too. saltwateraquarium.com has the best inverts like scarlets and their shipping is excellent. Very large specimens.

Yes - I’m by SNA, hence my handle lol. I usually just drop by one of the local LFS nearby and pick them up. Will look at online as well. Thanks

 

[Tired]

Cool, will try to score some this weekend. I only have urchins and snails -- there are some areas in the rockwork that they can't get thru...

One note for these guys; they're fussy about shells. I have a theory that they're adapted for high-flow areas in the wild, as, unlike most hermits, they'll latch tightly onto the rockwork when you try to pick them up. In what I assume is part of that, they like beefy, thick, heavy shells. Googling them should show you what they like- babies will take cerith shells, but bigger ones want shells that look and feel like rocks. I've seen them evaluating new shells, and they include lifting the shell as if to test the weight, a test that causes them to immediately ignore the shell if it fails.
Oh, and they flip small objects over regularly, maybe looking for food underneath, so don't have any tiny frags set on your sandbed. The flipping is clearly deliberate- they hook their claws under it and lift. Cool behavior.

 

[Lavey29]

One note for these guys; they're fussy about shells. I have a theory that they're adapted for high-flow areas in the wild, as, unlike most hermits, they'll latch tightly onto the rockwork when you try to pick them up. In what I assume is part of that, they like beefy, thick, heavy shells. Googling them should show you what they like- babies will take cerith shells, but bigger ones want shells that look and feel like rocks. I've seen them evaluating new shells, and they include lifting the shell as if to test the weight, a test that causes them to immediately ignore the shell if it fails.
Oh, and they flip small objects over regularly, maybe looking for food underneath, so don't have any tiny frags set on your sandbed. The flipping is clearly deliberate- they hook their claws under it and lift. Cool behavior.

You really study these dudes and I agree with your theory too.