Different kind of red hermit crab?

nanshaw2001 · 12/01/2009, 11:49 AM

Have no way to take a picture but bought a couple of these earlier today. They have larger equal sized front claws and are solidly blood red like a fire shrimp and about a 1/2" or so roundish shell....thought they were cool ( wrong reason to buy I know...) now I'm second guessing myself and wanting to make sure they are reef safe. Any ideas? TIA !

nanshaw2001 · 12/01/2009, 12:11 PM

Found it! Red scarlett reef hermit....totally reef safe!!!!

stevek480 · 12/01/2009, 12:45 PM

Not necessarily snail safe though.

If you have any snails of the same size (cerith) you will probably want to get some extra empty shells for the crabs.

Doobze · 12/01/2009, 03:14 PM

Hermit crabs get a bad rap around here, but I've never had a problem with them. They're good scavengers and hilarious to watch, I've just thrown a bunch of extra shells in there and have had no problem with snail predation.

bertoni · 12/01/2009, 04:29 PM

I've kept hermit crabs (small ones) and not had any noticeable problems. Other people aren't so lucky. I don't know what the actual odds are, but a couple of the scarlet reef hermits in a 150 g tank probably won't cause any problems.

nanshaw2001 · 12/01/2009, 04:42 PM

Thanks everyone! They are so different from my blue legs.....love the facial expressions! Should be a fun watch!!!!

joel g · 12/01/2009, 06:24 PM

I never had problems with my red hermits but when I added a few that were dark brown they just about wiped out my snail population

12/01/2009, 11:49 AM	#1
nanshaw2001 Older newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Statesboro, Ga Posts: 501	Different kind of red hermit crab? Have no way to take a picture but bought a couple of these earlier today. They have larger equal sized front claws and are solidly blood red like a fire shrimp and about a 1/2" or so roundish shell....thought they were cool ( wrong reason to buy I know...) now I'm second guessing myself and wanting to make sure they are reef safe. Any ideas? TIA ! __________________ My job doesn't begin to support my addiction! Current Tank Info: 125 Mixed reef, 55 softie tank in the works!

12/01/2009, 12:11 PM	#2
nanshaw2001 Older newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Statesboro, Ga Posts: 501	Found it! Red scarlett reef hermit....totally reef safe!!!! __________________ My job doesn't begin to support my addiction! Current Tank Info: 125 Mixed reef, 55 softie tank in the works!

12/01/2009, 04:29 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I've kept hermit crabs (small ones) and not had any noticeable problems. Other people aren't so lucky. I don't know what the actual odds are, but a couple of the scarlet reef hermits in a 150 g tank probably won't cause any problems. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/01/2009, 04:42 PM	#6
nanshaw2001 Older newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Statesboro, Ga Posts: 501	Thanks everyone! They are so different from my blue legs.....love the facial expressions! Should be a fun watch!!!! __________________ My job doesn't begin to support my addiction! Current Tank Info: 125 Mixed reef, 55 softie tank in the works!

12/01/2009, 12:45 PM	#3
stevek480 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 605	Not necessarily snail safe though. If you have any snails of the same size (cerith) you will probably want to get some extra empty shells for the crabs.

12/01/2009, 03:14 PM	#4
Doobze Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 246	Hermit crabs get a bad rap around here, but I've never had a problem with them. They're good scavengers and hilarious to watch, I've just thrown a bunch of extra shells in there and have had no problem with snail predation.

12/01/2009, 06:24 PM	#7
joel g Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: southern ma Posts: 68	I never had problems with my red hermits but when I added a few that were dark brown they just about wiped out my snail population