How many snails, and hermit crabs, should have to keep 210 clean?

John Hartford · 05/02/2006, 01:17 PM

I am just wondering how many blue legged hermit crabs and how many turbo snails I should have in my 210 tank to properly keep it clean. Are there other inverts that I should have as well to help keep it clean. Let me know what you recommend and in what quantity.

Thanks,
John

Alexj716 · 05/02/2006, 01:21 PM

I think the formula is 1 hermit/snail for every 3 gallons of water

Kaiser Tang · 05/02/2006, 01:22 PM

I have about 100-120 turbos, 50 ceriths, 75-100 nassarius snails and only 20-30 hermits. That's in a 92 gal. I'm not big on crabs. I think snails do a better job and on top of that they don't eat other snails!

LaloV. · 05/02/2006, 08:57 PM

Yeah, snails are better.
Do not buy a lot of snails, crabs, or whatever at once. If they clean the tank quickly they will leave nothing for later eating, and will starve.

blue20051 · 05/02/2006, 09:27 PM

I like snails more then crabs, crabs will usually kill other snails to find a new shell and go from there.

omni2226 · 05/02/2006, 10:03 PM

I would have a goal of 100 nassurus snails. They stay mostly in the sand. 50 or so mexican turbos. They mostly cruise the glass and sometimes on the rocks. 30 or so cerith snails.

Add maybe 5 a week of each as the tank matures.
Just my opinion. Hermit crabs crawl all over everything and will irratate your corals and anemones if you keep any.

Sk8r · 05/02/2006, 10:32 PM

Get a handful of every type of snail you can, including the little strombus grazers, fighting conchs, plus the hermits (scarlet and blue). The turbos are great, but having the little 1/4 inch strombus types that can get where the big guys can't is a plus. The conchs will keep the sand clean, and the only trouble I've ever had out of them was shoving one of my sand-based corals aside to make way for itself---the coral took no harm at all. I just couldn't figure out how it was rotating 360 in the sand.

John Hartford · 05/02/2006, 10:56 PM

The problem with the snails is that when they tip over they usually don't turn back over becuase they are so large, so they often die. I had found 14 shells of the turbos in my the tank behind my live rock, when I transferred to my 210. Also if something was to die in your tank and you could not find it, wouldn't the snails be beneficial as they would clean up the dead item as they are scavengers.

05/02/2006, 01:17 PM	#1
John Hartford Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 256	How many snails, and hermit crabs, should have to keep 210 clean? I am just wondering how many blue legged hermit crabs and how many turbo snails I should have in my 210 tank to properly keep it clean. Are there other inverts that I should have as well to help keep it clean. Let me know what you recommend and in what quantity. Thanks, John

05/02/2006, 01:22 PM	#3
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	I have about 100-120 turbos, 50 ceriths, 75-100 nassarius snails and only 20-30 hermits. That's in a 92 gal. I'm not big on crabs. I think snails do a better job and on top of that they don't eat other snails! __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

05/02/2006, 10:03 PM	#6
omni2226 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Middle Florida Posts: 774	I would have a goal of 100 nassurus snails. They stay mostly in the sand. 50 or so mexican turbos. They mostly cruise the glass and sometimes on the rocks. 30 or so cerith snails. Add maybe 5 a week of each as the tank matures. Just my opinion. Hermit crabs crawl all over everything and will irratate your corals and anemones if you keep any. __________________ I know enough to know I know nothing. Current Tank Info: 55 Marine. 29 Freshwater planted.

05/02/2006, 10:32 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Get a handful of every type of snail you can, including the little strombus grazers, fighting conchs, plus the hermits (scarlet and blue). The turbos are great, but having the little 1/4 inch strombus types that can get where the big guys can't is a plus. The conchs will keep the sand clean, and the only trouble I've ever had out of them was shoving one of my sand-based corals aside to make way for itself---the coral took no harm at all. I just couldn't figure out how it was rotating 360 in the sand. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/02/2006, 01:21 PM	#2
Alexj716 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 425	I think the formula is 1 hermit/snail for every 3 gallons of water

05/02/2006, 08:57 PM	#4
LaloV. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: México Posts: 110	Yeah, snails are better. Do not buy a lot of snails, crabs, or whatever at once. If they clean the tank quickly they will leave nothing for later eating, and will starve.

05/02/2006, 09:27 PM	#5
blue20051 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: usa Posts: 200	I like snails more then crabs, crabs will usually kill other snails to find a new shell and go from there.

05/02/2006, 10:56 PM	#8
John Hartford Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 256	The problem with the snails is that when they tip over they usually don't turn back over becuase they are so large, so they often die. I had found 14 shells of the turbos in my the tank behind my live rock, when I transferred to my 210. Also if something was to die in your tank and you could not find it, wouldn't the snails be beneficial as they would clean up the dead item as they are scavengers.