Hermts & Snails do I really need them?

aastretch64 · 04/20/2008, 05:09 PM

I had a 46 gallon reef when I first started and I purchased 20 snails and 20 hermits. By the time I upgraded to my 90 gallon I was left with 1 snail and 15 hermits.

I do 10% weekly water changes, clean the glass every other day, nitrates are below 5, no algae grow at all, and phosphate is undetectable. With all this in mind should I spend the money on more hermits? I know they say 1 per gallon, but what is the point?

Alex

cloak · 04/20/2008, 05:29 PM

Sounds like there wasn't enough food to sustain the hermits to begin with. I'd much rather have snails. To me, a hermit is just that, a loner. Like Obi-wan.

greenmonkey51 · 04/20/2008, 05:43 PM

Your hermits ate all your snails. Losing 5 hermits isn't to bad.

skippy2 · 04/20/2008, 06:42 PM

Once my last hermit died at 5yrs. I didn't add anymore to my tank. Only snails and bristleworms for me.

REEF-n-Chicago · 04/20/2008, 07:11 PM

I do not think they are a must. I like to watch them crawl around though

Snails are enough

REEF-n-Chicago · 04/20/2008, 07:11 PM

I do not think they are a must. I like to watch them crawl around though

Snails are enough

downhillbiker · 04/20/2008, 07:30 PM

i think they are cheap and a great thing to have in the tank. hermits are one of those things that you just have to plan on replacing every once in a while. i personally think that emeralds are a neater critter, and they do a better job at clean up too, i am adding more to my tank, as the hermits slowly disappear. i dont kill them, i just think that over a year or so some die, their life span cant honestly be that long.

Flipper62 · 04/20/2008, 07:32 PM

Hermit crabs will grow fast & will need bigger shells. When this happens, They will kill the snails for their shell. Its best to get a few empty shells & drop them in the tank. When the hermits need a new home, they will take over the empty shell. I had this happen , when I added a few empty shells it only took 2 days for the hermits to take over.

04/20/2008, 05:09 PM	#1
aastretch64 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 384	Hermts & Snails do I really need them? I had a 46 gallon reef when I first started and I purchased 20 snails and 20 hermits. By the time I upgraded to my 90 gallon I was left with 1 snail and 15 hermits. I do 10% weekly water changes, clean the glass every other day, nitrates are below 5, no algae grow at all, and phosphate is undetectable. With all this in mind should I spend the money on more hermits? I know they say 1 per gallon, but what is the point? Alex

04/20/2008, 06:42 PM	#4
skippy2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 3,205	Once my last hermit died at 5yrs. I didn't add anymore to my tank. Only snails and bristleworms for me. __________________ Peggy Current Tank Info: no tank

04/20/2008, 07:11 PM	#5
REEF-n-Chicago Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA (san pedro) Posts: 1,456	I do not think they are a must. I like to watch them crawl around though Snails are enough __________________ Jordan My tank gets DRUNK every morning Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon w/ 100 gallon sump; 240 gallon

04/20/2008, 07:11 PM	#6
REEF-n-Chicago Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA (san pedro) Posts: 1,456	I do not think they are a must. I like to watch them crawl around though Snails are enough __________________ Jordan My tank gets DRUNK every morning Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon w/ 100 gallon sump; 240 gallon

04/20/2008, 07:30 PM	#7
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	i think they are cheap and a great thing to have in the tank. hermits are one of those things that you just have to plan on replacing every once in a while. i personally think that emeralds are a neater critter, and they do a better job at clean up too, i am adding more to my tank, as the hermits slowly disappear. i dont kill them, i just think that over a year or so some die, their life span cant honestly be that long. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

04/20/2008, 05:29 PM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Sounds like there wasn't enough food to sustain the hermits to begin with. I'd much rather have snails. To me, a hermit is just that, a loner. Like Obi-wan.

04/20/2008, 05:43 PM	#3
greenmonkey51 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,092	Your hermits ate all your snails. Losing 5 hermits isn't to bad.

04/20/2008, 07:32 PM	#8
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	Hermit crabs will grow fast & will need bigger shells. When this happens, They will kill the snails for their shell. Its best to get a few empty shells & drop them in the tank. When the hermits need a new home, they will take over the empty shell. I had this happen , when I added a few empty shells it only took 2 days for the hermits to take over. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW