can hermits crash my tank

ducati1212 · 09/22/2006, 07:01 AM

So I have a 30 Gal and I am now missing two hermits. One has been missing a week and the other a few days. If they are dead and I would guess at least one is would that be enough to cause water problems.? Since I cant find them I cant take them out.

Also on why they died. I am assumming since params are good and fish and snails are healthy as can be that its just one of those things. Are hermits more or less sensitive to stuff than say snails

bman2221 · 09/22/2006, 07:34 AM

They could just be hiding in a crevice in the LR that food can get into so they don't leave. I know some of my hermits stay in the same hole in the live rock for weeks and when they are ready they come out, but I also noticed that food still got in there so they were still eating.

I also don't believe that two hermits dying would cause a crash, but if you are worried about it then make sure you do some routine water changes and that should take care of it.

bman2221 · 09/22/2006, 07:35 AM

Also what kind of hermits are they? I have seen blue legs hermits attack each other until one of them died. Don't know if it happens often but it does sometimes.

ducati1212 · 09/22/2006, 07:40 AM

1 blue legged hermit and one red scarlet hermit. The red one was fairly new. I put 2 in one was DOA but Ithought maybe he just needed some time The other was alive for a good week and although much shyer than the blue legged ones he would come out on occasion. but its been 4 days since I seen him

The blue legged ones I have 3 total two are real small. Almost specs. they fight eachother daily for no reason becoase there are shells everywhere in my tank. The largest of the blue legs is missing. he was very active for 3 weeks. All over the rock every day and night. He switched shells a few times then went back to his original shell now I have not seen him in about 8 days.

the 2 small blue legged hermits are around still. and still feuding. funny little buggers to watch

dc · 09/22/2006, 08:35 AM

It could just be molting or something, waiting for it's exoskeleton to get hard. They are good hiders. I know people have a lot more trouble with the blue legged than scarlett. Once they start growing, they'll take out anything in a shell they want.

ducati1212 · 09/22/2006, 08:48 AM

for pure entertainment value the blue legged hermits are non stop. They are like the key stone cops. they fight they switch shells they are active day or night. great to watch but yeah I can see them being a pain to my snails down the road.

funny story when I bought them my LFS had a tank full of just bluelegged hermits and one ful of red hermits. the tank with the blue legged hermits looked like the water was boiling. There must have been 200 hermits fighting and running and in and out of shells it was a free for all in there. The red legged hermits looked like 200 dead shells occasionally poping out then right back in. I guess that sums up the two pretty close

dc · 09/22/2006, 08:55 AM

LOL, yep that's cause they are killers. Unfortunately it's snails that suffer. And they aren't cheap.

09/22/2006, 07:01 AM	#1
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	can hermits crash my tank So I have a 30 Gal and I am now missing two hermits. One has been missing a week and the other a few days. If they are dead and I would guess at least one is would that be enough to cause water problems.? Since I cant find them I cant take them out. Also on why they died. I am assumming since params are good and fish and snails are healthy as can be that its just one of those things. Are hermits more or less sensitive to stuff than say snails

09/22/2006, 08:35 AM	#5
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	It could just be molting or something, waiting for it's exoskeleton to get hard. They are good hiders. I know people have a lot more trouble with the blue legged than scarlett. Once they start growing, they'll take out anything in a shell they want. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

09/22/2006, 08:55 AM	#7
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	LOL, yep that's cause they are killers. Unfortunately it's snails that suffer. And they aren't cheap. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

09/22/2006, 07:34 AM	#2
bman2221 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Springboro, OH Posts: 50	They could just be hiding in a crevice in the LR that food can get into so they don't leave. I know some of my hermits stay in the same hole in the live rock for weeks and when they are ready they come out, but I also noticed that food still got in there so they were still eating. I also don't believe that two hermits dying would cause a crash, but if you are worried about it then make sure you do some routine water changes and that should take care of it.

09/22/2006, 07:35 AM	#3
bman2221 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Springboro, OH Posts: 50	Also what kind of hermits are they? I have seen blue legs hermits attack each other until one of them died. Don't know if it happens often but it does sometimes.

09/22/2006, 07:40 AM	#4
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	1 blue legged hermit and one red scarlet hermit. The red one was fairly new. I put 2 in one was DOA but Ithought maybe he just needed some time The other was alive for a good week and although much shyer than the blue legged ones he would come out on occasion. but its been 4 days since I seen him The blue legged ones I have 3 total two are real small. Almost specs. they fight eachother daily for no reason becoase there are shells everywhere in my tank. The largest of the blue legs is missing. he was very active for 3 weeks. All over the rock every day and night. He switched shells a few times then went back to his original shell now I have not seen him in about 8 days. the 2 small blue legged hermits are around still. and still feuding. funny little buggers to watch

09/22/2006, 08:48 AM	#6
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	for pure entertainment value the blue legged hermits are non stop. They are like the key stone cops. they fight they switch shells they are active day or night. great to watch but yeah I can see them being a pain to my snails down the road. funny story when I bought them my LFS had a tank full of just bluelegged hermits and one ful of red hermits. the tank with the blue legged hermits looked like the water was boiling. There must have been 200 hermits fighting and running and in and out of shells it was a free for all in there. The red legged hermits looked like 200 dead shells occasionally poping out then right back in. I guess that sums up the two pretty close