How many blue hermits do I need?

jvr1102 · 10/15/2007, 02:02 PM

how many hermits for a 90 gallon? Does anybody else also have a problem with their snails going into their overflow?

barbra · 10/15/2007, 02:16 PM

Hermits and snails don't accomplish the same tasks. Snails are pretty strictly algae grazers and hermits scavenge bits of detritus and food.

InLimbo87 · 10/15/2007, 02:27 PM

My answer would be 0. Personally, I've had bad luck with the blue-legged hermits. I'd look more into the red-legs (they're less aggressive).

hugodboss · 10/15/2007, 02:33 PM

I also heared tha the blue ones are a bit bad...ive also gone with the red legged ones...i have 10 hermits in a 55 so i think you would be ok with at least 15 to 20. I also added a porcelin crab and a conck(typo) which hlp with the cleanup.

I havent added snails yet but i will soon.

blu iz · 10/15/2007, 02:45 PM

I have 5 blue legs in my tank here at work. I have found they have killed 3 of my 5 snails.

I would go for the ones with red legs.

marduc · 10/15/2007, 02:49 PM

I quit using hermits a few years ago, they all are potential snail killers, nor do I think they are even necessary.

Nassarius snails, and/or serpent stars can fill the same niche.

Boca Kris · 10/15/2007, 03:13 PM

Are serpant starts hard to catch? Is there anything they are not compatible with?

papagimp · 10/15/2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jvr1102
how many hermits for a 90 gallon?

NONE....I keep a few red scarlets around for the fun of it, but I do not use them as clean up crew or anything, and if I wasn't so attached to my 5 scarlets, I'd have no hermits at all. bEen slowly getting them out of any other tank i own. That's fun too, they don't run up to the front of the tank for me and I have to go "crab hunting"

Boca Kris · 10/15/2007, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Boca Kris
Are serpant starts hard to catch? Is there anything they are not compatible with?

CATCH!? I meant to ask if they are hard to KEEP!!??

Woops!

95accord · 10/15/2007, 03:40 PM

i have a few in my 55gal...yes they are snail killers....but my LFS only has blue ones (its all they seemed to have for the longest time and cant seem to get any for some idiotic reason or another)

cd77 · 10/15/2007, 03:56 PM

Occasionally I've spotted a red-legged in a brand new home -- that is to say the former home of a snail. They really like the Cerith shells.

After scattering a variety of shells (purchased through eBay) for my hermits they haven't attacked a single snail. I think they bring a lot to a tank and they're fascinating creatures but you do need to provide extra shells.

10/15/2007, 02:02 PM	#1
jvr1102 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 521	How many blue hermits do I need? how many hermits for a 90 gallon? Does anybody else also have a problem with their snails going into their overflow? Last edited by jvr1102; 10/15/2007 at 02:20 PM.

10/15/2007, 02:27 PM	#3
InLimbo87 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Central FL Posts: 3,197	My answer would be 0. Personally, I've had bad luck with the blue-legged hermits. I'd look more into the red-legs (they're less aggressive). __________________ We are forever responsible for that which we tame... Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

10/15/2007, 02:33 PM	#4
hugodboss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 99	I also heared tha the blue ones are a bit bad...ive also gone with the red legged ones...i have 10 hermits in a 55 so i think you would be ok with at least 15 to 20. I also added a porcelin crab and a conck(typo) which hlp with the cleanup. I havent added snails yet but i will soon. __________________ we are all in one giant aqarium. Current Tank Info: reef tank with softies and lps

10/15/2007, 02:45 PM	#5
blu iz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Birmingham AL Posts: 64	I have 5 blue legs in my tank here at work. I have found they have killed 3 of my 5 snails. I would go for the ones with red legs. __________________ "Living proof of the blonde myth" Amy Current Tank Info: 100gl saltwater / 29gl and 180gl freshwater

10/15/2007, 03:40 PM	#10
95accord Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fredericton Posts: 623	i have a few in my 55gal...yes they are snail killers....but my LFS only has blue ones (its all they seemed to have for the longest time and cant seem to get any for some idiotic reason or another) __________________ when life passes you by....downshift Current Tank Info: Reef 2.0 - 45 Osaka cube

10/15/2007, 02:16 PM	#2
barbra Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Va Beach, VA Posts: 1,408	Hermits and snails don't accomplish the same tasks. Snails are pretty strictly algae grazers and hermits scavenge bits of detritus and food.

10/15/2007, 02:49 PM	#6
marduc Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 780	I quit using hermits a few years ago, they all are potential snail killers, nor do I think they are even necessary. Nassarius snails, and/or serpent stars can fill the same niche.

10/15/2007, 03:13 PM	#7
Boca Kris Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Boca Raton, Florida Posts: 401	Are serpant starts hard to catch? Is there anything they are not compatible with?

10/15/2007, 03:56 PM	#11
cd77 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fishers, IN, USA Posts: 1,169	Occasionally I've spotted a red-legged in a brand new home -- that is to say the former home of a snail. They really like the Cerith shells. After scattering a variety of shells (purchased through eBay) for my hermits they haven't attacked a single snail. I think they bring a lot to a tank and they're fascinating creatures but you do need to provide extra shells. __________________ -Chris Current Tank Info: 70G Reef (Aug 2007), 45G Reef (Dec 2007)