Red leg or blue lleg hermits?

[Sgt Jonny Cat]

which ones are better cleaning crabs? And will they eat my snails?

[shermanator]

I don't think there is much difference with regard to how well they clean. And all hermits will kill snails. You can somewhat mitigate it by putting a ton of empty shells in the tank of different sizes, but in time, all hermits will kill snails.

[dmh41532]

given the opportunity, either for a shell or a meal, yes they will kill snails.

[Kyle918]

I have two blue legged hermits in the tank in my sig and I will not be buying more. Not to anyone's surprise, but as I type this, a hermit is attacking a snail and has been since I got home from work... I've seen about 3 good attacks to snails but so far, all snails are accounted for. If I catch it again, he will be banished to the sump!!

[Silvergryphon]

I have white legged, fun lil buggers.

[RDM]

I haven't noticed any difference in the cleaning ability of either type but they both give my snails a hard time. Most of my hermits are now living in shells that used to have snails in them.

[whosurcaddie]

Neither get snails only. Snails do way more work than hermits ever could. If your dead set on a few hermits get some scarlet's they are less likely to kill your snails.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Sgt Jonny Cat

which ones are better cleaning crabs? And will they eat my snails?

Yes, in the long run, they will kill your snails. And I strongly prefer a variety of snails in lieu of hermit crabs. Hermits are an LFS issue because they are profitable.

[Teenreefer15]

I think scarlet hermits are the way to go

[bchap05]

I have blue, red, and zebra. I don't notice a difference in cleaning. None have attacked a snail that I've seen. There have been two shell exchanges so far and both were with random empty shells i put in. Hermits are more entertaining that snails IMO. Except maybe my turbos but they are huge and don't mess with them.

[ahmed_iAM]

It doesn't really matter. I prefer the red if they are cheaper. But blue if fine. They do kill snails though. They eat more of the left over food than algae in my tank. I have messy eaters.

[cloak]

Originally Posted by nbyron74

I think scarlet hermits are the way to go

+1. (in the right proportions of course)

One scarlet hermit to every 25-30 gallons has always served me well.

[bnumair]

i dont do crabs either just snails of various kinds.

[bjwoody15]

I use to be a snail only, but setup new tank and put Mexican red legs and love to watch them. They are always cleaning.

[ALH]

I really enjoy watching them as well, so I can forgive their murderous tendencies

[inetmug]

What about Sally Lightfoot crabs?

What about emerald crabs?

[bjwoody15]

I also have 3 emeralds in mine 90 gallon. They are really cool to watch.

[Pigpen17]

Originally Posted by inetmug

What about Sally Lightfoot crabs?

What about emerald crabs?

I have had a single Emerald Crab in my old 65g and my current 56g and I love them. Very peaceful, although I hear when they get big they can go after fish. I have never had one big enough to do any damage.

My Sally Lightfoot in the 65g on the otherhand was always destructive. I finally pulled out all my rock and caught him after he tore apart my Porcelain Crab. Never again.

Oh and I have snails and red and blue legged hermits. I have found that the red are less likely to kill snails, but both are leaving the snails alone atm.