Zoos and Hermit Crabs

kobain06 · 02/24/2007, 11:43 PM

Ok, so I just got a nice rock with multiple orange and lime zoos on it. However, I am concerned... I also have 5 small hermit crabs in my tank and they have a tendency to climb on the zoos forcing them to close. Can the hermit crabs harm the zoos?

sir_dudeguy · 02/24/2007, 11:50 PM

To Reef Central

no, they wont harm the zoas. They're just looking for food. However there are several reasons i do not use hermits anymore, but mainly cuz they're not safe to other snails, which are much better cleaners than hermit crabs any day.

PhilOlsen · 02/25/2007, 12:08 AM

I agree, crabs are evil little creatures. They are opprotunistic feeders and become agressive over time. I have heard of them killing other crabs and snails for their shells and even slow moving or sleeping fish for food even when well fed. I know a ton of people will swear by them, but you will not find one in any of my tanks, other than for a special treat for my triggers. IMO the only time crabs are good...is with lemon and melted butter.

savethereef · 02/25/2007, 02:00 AM

lol

aquarius77 · 02/25/2007, 02:33 AM

I like Garlic Butter!

I keep crabs, not alot but i like to have them around. They never have harmed my zoas yet and they walk acrossed them alot... I did get a bit concerned a few days ago when i saw one of my hermits playing cliffhanger from a birdsnest colony. I decided not to intervene and the coral and the crab are fine.

saltman123 · 02/25/2007, 02:59 AM

My crabs never seem to bother my zoos other than the occasional pass over. If you watch them they are very cautious to tap the zoo lightly to get it to close prior to crawling over them.

Yes, the Hermits are definitely agressive, but not bad enough for me to rid of them. I do see them randomly beating on my snails. Survival of the fittest, and i'll get more if I need.

So far, the only snails I've found missing were some teeny tiny nassarius, but my normal nassarious, cerith, and turbo's do just fine.

kobain06 · 02/26/2007, 11:20 AM

thanks for all the responses, I feel better!

reeftanker04 · 02/26/2007, 12:08 PM

My hermits (i have around 25 blue legs in a 30 gallon) are pretty aggressive towards my snails but have left my zoo's alone. They do climb on them, causing the zoos to close but they're just looking for food in the rock.

bobbbm · 02/26/2007, 02:22 PM

LOL My wife saw the hermits in our tank eat a snail... the next day they all ended upm in the sump :P

02/24/2007, 11:43 PM	#1
kobain06 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2	Zoos and Hermit Crabs Ok, so I just got a nice rock with multiple orange and lime zoos on it. However, I am concerned... I also have 5 small hermit crabs in my tank and they have a tendency to climb on the zoos forcing them to close. Can the hermit crabs harm the zoos?

02/24/2007, 11:50 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	*To Reef Central* no, they wont harm the zoas. They're just looking for food. However there are several reasons i do not use hermits anymore, but mainly cuz they're not safe to other snails, which are much better cleaners than hermit crabs any day. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

02/25/2007, 12:08 AM	#3
PhilOlsen Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 68	I agree, crabs are evil little creatures. They are opprotunistic feeders and become agressive over time. I have heard of them killing other crabs and snails for their shells and even slow moving or sleeping fish for food even when well fed. I know a ton of people will swear by them, but you will not find one in any of my tanks, other than for a special treat for my triggers. IMO the only time crabs are good...is with lemon and melted butter. __________________ IT NEVER ENDS!

02/25/2007, 02:00 AM	#4
savethereef SCRK Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bellflower 90706 CA (So Cal) Posts: 7,720	lol __________________ Instead of building a reef in my home i would rather build my home in the reef. Rob aka STR SCRK & SCMAS MEMBER Current Tank Info: Leemar 450g 96L x36W x 30T 3/4 inch Starfire With 70g Sump Vertex 250 Royal Exclusive protein Skimmer Laguna 2900 Return pump 5 Aquaillumination Hydra's LED Modules. 4 Tunze Stream Bubble Magus Doser. Reef Keeper Elite

02/25/2007, 02:59 AM	#6
saltman123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT Posts: 1,048	My crabs never seem to bother my zoos other than the occasional pass over. If you watch them they are very cautious to tap the zoo lightly to get it to close prior to crawling over them. Yes, the Hermits are definitely agressive, but not bad enough for me to rid of them. I do see them randomly beating on my snails. Survival of the fittest, and i'll get more if I need. So far, the only snails I've found missing were some teeny tiny nassarius, but my normal nassarious, cerith, and turbo's do just fine. __________________ 12 Gallon Aquapod. 4 Gallon Pico-Coming Soon Current Tank Info: 12 Gallon Aquapod

02/25/2007, 02:33 AM	#5
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	I like Garlic Butter! I keep crabs, not alot but i like to have them around. They never have harmed my zoas yet and they walk acrossed them alot... I did get a bit concerned a few days ago when i saw one of my hermits playing cliffhanger from a birdsnest colony. I decided not to intervene and the coral and the crab are fine.

02/26/2007, 11:20 AM	#7
kobain06 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2	thanks for all the responses, I feel better!

02/26/2007, 12:08 PM	#8
reeftanker04 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 259	My hermits (i have around 25 blue legs in a 30 gallon) are pretty aggressive towards my snails but have left my zoo's alone. They do climb on them, causing the zoos to close but they're just looking for food in the rock.

02/26/2007, 02:22 PM	#9
bobbbm Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ronkonkoma NY Posts: 535	LOL My wife saw the hermits in our tank eat a snail... the next day they all ended upm in the sump :P