Hermit crab and refugium

seldin · 10/23/2007, 02:00 PM

I have a FOWLR 55 gallon salt water, with 24 lbs of live rock and 45 lbs of live rock curing. Tank is almost 1 year being setup.

I just created a small refugium that I placed some very established live sand and chaeto. In addition, I just received a nice Hermit crab and a few snails.

Here's my problem. I think in the past, I did not let snails acclimate long enough. This time I took 2 hours for them. Well, the Hermit crab and smaller snail are doing fine in the refugium.

In the past, even the large turbo snails were being tossed around like footballs and killed within a short amount of time from my Niger trigger, hippo tang, etc.

So my question, is that I just read that hermit crabs can kill other snails. So I am thinking that maybe I should seperate the hermit crab and snail. Trying to put 1 in the display tank.

However, I really don't want to lose anything. They both look happy in the refugium. I was told, that more snails maybe in the live sand, for the refugium.

So do you think, I should put either the snail, or hermit crab in the display tank, or just leave both alone.

I think I should leave them alone, and hope the snail, is left alone. I think the refugium is a good place for both. What do you think.

Thanks much,

uscharalph · 10/23/2007, 02:52 PM

Sounds like your fish won't allow the snail to be put in the display tank, but I'd try and put the hermit in the display. I have around 15 - 20 hermits in my display. They are part of my cleanup crew. I lose one every now and then, but that's just part of life in an aquarium.

seldin · 10/26/2007, 06:35 AM

Ralph,

Thanks for the info.

10/23/2007, 02:00 PM	#1
seldin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Suffolk County, NY Posts: 1,091	Hermit crab and refugium I have a FOWLR 55 gallon salt water, with 24 lbs of live rock and 45 lbs of live rock curing. Tank is almost 1 year being setup. I just created a small refugium that I placed some very established live sand and chaeto. In addition, I just received a nice Hermit crab and a few snails. Here's my problem. I think in the past, I did not let snails acclimate long enough. This time I took 2 hours for them. Well, the Hermit crab and smaller snail are doing fine in the refugium. In the past, even the large turbo snails were being tossed around like footballs and killed within a short amount of time from my Niger trigger, hippo tang, etc. So my question, is that I just read that hermit crabs can kill other snails. So I am thinking that maybe I should seperate the hermit crab and snail. Trying to put 1 in the display tank. However, I really don't want to lose anything. They both look happy in the refugium. I was told, that more snails maybe in the live sand, for the refugium. So do you think, I should put either the snail, or hermit crab in the display tank, or just leave both alone. I think I should leave them alone, and hope the snail, is left alone. I think the refugium is a good place for both. What do you think. Thanks much, __________________ - Larry Current Tank Info: 55 gallon Reef, Aquactinics MH/T5, 1/3 hp chiller, LifeReef overflow, custom sump/refugium, AquaC pro skimmer and Vortech MP40w. Also, a Solana Rimless nano, Viper 150MH, Tunze 9002 skimmer, Vortech MP10 ES and RKL Controller.

10/23/2007, 02:52 PM	#2
uscharalph Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,248	Sounds like your fish won't allow the snail to be put in the display tank, but I'd try and put the hermit in the display. I have around 15 - 20 hermits in my display. They are part of my cleanup crew. I lose one every now and then, but that's just part of life in an aquarium. __________________ Ralph Mendoza Jr. Long Beach, CA Current Tank Info: 80 Gallon Reef Tank

10/26/2007, 06:35 AM	#3
seldin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Suffolk County, NY Posts: 1,091	Ralph, Thanks for the info. __________________ - Larry Current Tank Info: 55 gallon Reef, Aquactinics MH/T5, 1/3 hp chiller, LifeReef overflow, custom sump/refugium, AquaC pro skimmer and Vortech MP40w. Also, a Solana Rimless nano, Viper 150MH, Tunze 9002 skimmer, Vortech MP10 ES and RKL Controller.