Adding Crabs, Bad Idea?

Gwynhidwy · 03/12/2008, 08:23 AM

I have a 155G LPS and softie reef. Its been fully up and running for about 18 months now. I'm considering adding a few of the small hermit crabs like Clibanarius tricolor or Calcinus laevimanus because my husband really likes them. Is this a terrible idea? These are supposed to be some of the more reef safe crabs, but I've heard so many crab related disasters.....

So would adding some of these smaller hermits be a bad idea? How many have had success with these guys? Problems?

Logzor · 03/12/2008, 08:27 AM

Just get like 30-50 blue leg hermits, they are fun to watch and are great scavengers! Not to mention you can get this many for under 25 at the right place.

HowardW · 03/12/2008, 08:39 AM

A few of either of those shouldn't cause any trouble in a tank that size, the scarlet hermits are generally safe too from my experiences.

ccso139 · 03/12/2008, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HowardW
A few of either of those shouldn't cause any trouble in a tank that size, the scarlet hermits are generally safe too from my experiences.

Tell my red footed snails that!!! LOL Actually, since they were eaten by the scarlet, you can't. But, they have not bothered the corals.

HowardW · 03/12/2008, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ccso139
Tell my red footed snails that!!! LOL Actually, since they were eaten by the scarlet, you can't. But, they have not bothered the corals.

Well I guess I should've mentioned that snail casulties are always a possibility with hermits, as they are opportunistic feeders and may also kill a snail for its shell.

I also should mention it's also a good idea to have a variety of various size empty hermit shells in the tank because they like to change homes too.

ccso139 · 03/12/2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HowardW
Well I guess I should've mentioned that snail casulties are always a possibility with hermits, as they are opportunistic feeders and may also kill a snail for its shell.

I also should mention it's also a good idea to have a variety of various size empty hermit shells in the tank because they like to change homes too.

Nope, mine is just mean. I have many empty shells, of various sizes. The scarlet killed two snails on back to back days and took the shells, that were the same size. I guess that is truly what survival of the fittest means....

HowardW · 03/12/2008, 10:37 AM

Maybe those snails provoked him?

C. Friesen · 03/12/2008, 11:32 AM

Hi, my Blue legs keep going after my burrowing conch. There are a bunch of empty shells on the sand but some of them seem to prefer to kill turbo grazers for their shells rather than taking the empty ones.

At some point I may have to put the bigger crabs in the sump.

Chris

ccso139 · 03/12/2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HowardW
Maybe those snails provoked him?

Well, either
A) The scarlet knew that I was bad mouthing him, or
B) The snails got their revenge, because,

Right after typing about him being mean, I looked in the tank and found a scarlet half eaten w/ just the legs left. My other scarlet hasn't moved since, I can see legs in the shell, but no movement from him. I will investigate further to see if it is still alive or not?

03/12/2008, 08:23 AM	#1
Gwynhidwy Meat Popsicle Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,511	Adding Crabs, Bad Idea? I have a 155G LPS and softie reef. Its been fully up and running for about 18 months now. I'm considering adding a few of the small hermit crabs like Clibanarius tricolor or Calcinus laevimanus because my husband really likes them. Is this a terrible idea? These are supposed to be some of the more reef safe crabs, but I've heard so many crab related disasters..... So would adding some of these smaller hermits be a bad idea? How many have had success with these guys? Problems?

03/12/2008, 08:39 AM	#3
HowardW Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 1,763	A few of either of those shouldn't cause any trouble in a tank that size, the scarlet hermits are generally safe too from my experiences. __________________ Florida live rock addict

03/12/2008, 10:37 AM	#7
HowardW Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 1,763	Maybe those snails provoked him? __________________ Florida live rock addict

03/12/2008, 08:27 AM	#2
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	Just get like 30-50 blue leg hermits, they are fun to watch and are great scavengers! Not to mention you can get this many for under 25 at the right place.

03/12/2008, 11:32 AM	#8
C. Friesen Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 50	Hi, my Blue legs keep going after my burrowing conch. There are a bunch of empty shells on the sand but some of them seem to prefer to kill turbo grazers for their shells rather than taking the empty ones. At some point I may have to put the bigger crabs in the sump. Chris