hermits and snails?

sk8ergolie31 · 06/15/2008, 01:59 PM

how many hermit crabs and snails should i put in my 30g?

kau_cinta_ku · 06/15/2008, 02:59 PM

only start with about 10 or so. you don't want to add to much at first or they may starve.

I like to only use snails in my tanks though due to hermits will kill snails, for food, their shells, or just for fun.

AquariumPerson · 06/15/2008, 03:29 PM

i put 10 red leg, 10 blue leg, and 20 astrea snails in my 20 but i got them free anyhow and didnt have anywhere else to put them, just started the tank up. may be too many not sure...

but unfortunately 2 astrea snails did die due to the red leg hermits (larger florida keys variety)

i dunno about the ... safeness of blue legs, havent really seen them bother astrea's in the past, but who knows.

FranktheTankTx · 06/15/2008, 04:25 PM

If your 30g is rather new... I would just drop a combination of about 15 of them in there. Then add a few more in about 2 months or so. Kind of read and react as to if you need more CUC.

Zann · 06/15/2008, 04:41 PM

if you put hermits in with the snails make sure to add some shells that the hermits can get in so they dont kill your snails for theirs

kau_cinta_ku · 06/15/2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zann
if you put hermits in with the snails make sure to add some shells that the hermits can get in so they dont kill your snails for theirs

even with extra shells, the hermits can and will go after snails. that is their nature. but the extra shells may help to a certain extent.

gea0119 · 06/15/2008, 04:50 PM

I would say no more than 7 of each.I have a 26 gallon and I have 5 of each(astrea and hermit) now but when I get my fish i'm gonna add 2 more of each and 7 (nass) for a total of 21 and a sally light foot or emerald crab.I dont have any nass snails because they like to sift the san and from what i can tell I dont have any algae or anything for them to eat in my sand yet.Sorry about the snail name spelling.im to lazy to look it up right now.

khanb31 · 06/15/2008, 06:07 PM

This is a good thread...I was just thinking that less than 6 would do the job (in my tank.....33gallon). But now I can see that wont do it. good to get a perspective on it.

SCIFI_3D_zoo · 06/15/2008, 06:32 PM

I've actually read some TOTM's that don't have any snails or crabs. I think they have systems that are in such balance they don't need them. I tend to get them only when I need them. I have a GHA outbreak and I'm buying 30 of each to help out. I've heard 1 per gallon of each type.. snail/crab. Reds tend to go after more meaty stuff... including corals if they are starving. Blue hermits are safer and will help with algae. Turbo snails will help with algae too and not cause any other problems. I have a 90gal and I'm obviously not going 1 for 1. I'm just doing 1 per 3 gallons. Maybe somebody who sells them likes the 1/gal approach.

There are other ways to get rid of waste and algae. I'm doing really good with a black sand sifting cucumber. I have a sand star too but I've heard unconfirmed reports that they could decimate your other sand creatures too like pods. There are fish that are good alage eaters like a Foxface and Yellow Tang.

I have also heard before that people do just go with snails. But you have to turn them over all the time if they fall and can't flip over. You could go with 1/2 to 1/3 the crabs to snails ratio. And just a 1 per 3 gallons of each too. That's a great place to start without wasting too much of your money. You'll eventually over time like me end up with extra shells so don't buy extra shells. Things will die and there'll be shells there in the future.

06/15/2008, 01:59 PM	#1
sk8ergolie31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: florida Posts: 180	hermits and snails? how many hermit crabs and snails should i put in my 30g? __________________ click red house for 30L build thread! -Evan

06/15/2008, 04:25 PM	#4
FranktheTankTx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 2,306	If your 30g is rather new... I would just drop a combination of about 15 of them in there. Then add a few more in about 2 months or so. Kind of read and react as to if you need more CUC. __________________ Frank the Tank "What, I thought we were in the trust tree... in the nest? Are we not?" Current Tank Info: Custom Rimless 60g (30.5"x24.5"x18.5")

06/15/2008, 04:50 PM	#7
gea0119 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.F.V.-LOS ANGELES,CA. Posts: 403	I would say no more than 7 of each.I have a 26 gallon and I have 5 of each(astrea and hermit) now but when I get my fish i'm gonna add 2 more of each and 7 (nass) for a total of 21 and a sally light foot or emerald crab.I dont have any nass snails because they like to sift the san and from what i can tell I dont have any algae or anything for them to eat in my sand yet.Sorry about the snail name spelling.im to lazy to look it up right now. __________________ How Do Saltwater Fish Get High...SeaWeed Gea M. Current Tank Info: 26g 5/17/08 LS,LR,CPR Bak Pak Protein Skimmer,Fluval 205 Filter,45lbs LR/LS,#2/#1 Koralia Powerheads, 100w heater, 2 Coralife 55W Blue and White Lights.I have 1 Killer Clown Fish and 4 Fast Swimming Damsels to keep him Company

06/15/2008, 06:07 PM	#8
khanb31 SLim Jim Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Near Ohare, Des Plaines 60016 Posts: 1,096	This is a good thread...I was just thinking that less than 6 would do the job (in my tank.....33gallon). But now I can see that wont do it. good to get a perspective on it. __________________ I got the fish down pat....but those corals are tricky! Current Tank Info: DIY 120 Gallon 68"L x 30"W x 15.5"T Starfire Rimless - 75 Gal Sump, K2 Cone skimmer, 20gal Coral QT, 10 gal Fish QT, 8 bulb T5 Tek Fixture - 3 ATI Blue+, 3 ATI Blue Special, 2 Fiji Purple, 12 cool white/12 Royal Blue 3W LED's.

06/15/2008, 02:59 PM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	only start with about 10 or so. you don't want to add to much at first or they may starve. I like to only use snails in my tanks though due to hermits will kill snails, for food, their shells, or just for fun.

06/15/2008, 03:29 PM	#3
AquariumPerson Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 184	i put 10 red leg, 10 blue leg, and 20 astrea snails in my 20 but i got them free anyhow and didnt have anywhere else to put them, just started the tank up. may be too many not sure... but unfortunately 2 astrea snails did die due to the red leg hermits (larger florida keys variety) i dunno about the ... safeness of blue legs, havent really seen them bother astrea's in the past, but who knows.

06/15/2008, 04:41 PM	#5
Zann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Southaven Ms Posts: 569	if you put hermits in with the snails make sure to add some shells that the hermits can get in so they dont kill your snails for theirs

06/15/2008, 06:32 PM	#9
SCIFI_3D_zoo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sebring, Florida Posts: 1,072	I've actually read some TOTM's that don't have any snails or crabs. I think they have systems that are in such balance they don't need them. I tend to get them only when I need them. I have a GHA outbreak and I'm buying 30 of each to help out. I've heard 1 per gallon of each type.. snail/crab. Reds tend to go after more meaty stuff... including corals if they are starving. Blue hermits are safer and will help with algae. Turbo snails will help with algae too and not cause any other problems. I have a 90gal and I'm obviously not going 1 for 1. I'm just doing 1 per 3 gallons. Maybe somebody who sells them likes the 1/gal approach. There are other ways to get rid of waste and algae. I'm doing really good with a black sand sifting cucumber. I have a sand star too but I've heard unconfirmed reports that they could decimate your other sand creatures too like pods. There are fish that are good alage eaters like a Foxface and Yellow Tang. I have also heard before that people do just go with snails. But you have to turn them over all the time if they fall and can't flip over. You could go with 1/2 to 1/3 the crabs to snails ratio. And just a 1 per 3 gallons of each too. That's a great place to start without wasting too much of your money. You'll eventually over time like me end up with extra shells so don't buy extra shells. Things will die and there'll be shells there in the future.