attack of the hermit crabs

rcranf1 · 11/14/2009, 01:56 PM

so I have about 75 total blue and red leg hermit crabs, which about 6 are rather large. I had 10 turbo snails about a month ago and one by one they started to disapperar. so i bought 10 more like 3 weeks ago and now there are none. my wife says she saw them darn crabs munching away at one. Just wondering if there not getting enough food, or is this just natural.

I have 125 gallon tank which I feed once a day with a big cube of home made food. any thoughts

Paul B · 11/14/2009, 02:00 PM

Where do you think hermit crabs get those shells from?

rcranf1 · 11/14/2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

Where do you think hermit crabs get those shells from?

I understand this but the shell for a turbo snail is huge, wondering if theres a way to keep them from eating them. whats better to have snails or hermits?

Butterz · 11/14/2009, 02:10 PM

I did that same mistake a while ago. It was like a gang war between blue legged and white hermit crabs.

I'm not sure what eats them, but I started putting what was left of my hermit crabs in my sump.

rcranf1 · 11/14/2009, 11:19 PM

*bump*

betamed · 11/14/2009, 11:22 PM

adding a bunch of empty shells will help. it seems the hermits want a home more than a meal most of the time.

shellzreef · 11/14/2009, 11:24 PM

+1 betamed!

Poeticlydead · 11/14/2009, 11:56 PM

75 blue and red leg hermits - so 75 total or of each, either way you seem to have way more then should be needed for that tank I doubt you will support that volume of CUC for any length of time. People typically talk about adding huge CUC because of the die off, I have found though that most of that die off is do to competition for limited resources. CUCs should be added slowly the same as any other member of your tank and you should only stock to the level your tank can naturally support (this may increase with an increase in the number of fish).

Your snails may be starving and the hermits just doing their job by cleaning up after them.
Weak/starving snails that end up on their backs normally can't turn back over and end up as hermit food.

I would suggest you just let things be for a bit and see if the hermit population starts to level out and only keep a few turbos to take care of the smooth surfaces (like glass or overflows).

Flipper62 · 11/15/2009, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcranf1

I understand this but the shell for a turbo snail is huge, wondering if theres a way to keep them from eating them. whats better to have snails or hermits?

Hermit crabs love to Hijack turbo snail shells. I really dont like the Blue legged ones, it seems that the blue legged ones are the killers.

One thing that I have noticed over the years......Look at the hermit....Look at his legs & claws. If you see one claw large / huge.....Its not reef safe and going to go after snails and even corals

Thats what I have found.....after that, so far....so good

Red legged dont seem to be a problem

rcranf1 · 11/15/2009, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poeticlydead

75 blue and red leg hermits - so 75 total or of each, either way you seem to have way more then should be needed for that tank I doubt you will support that volume of CUC for any length of time. People typically talk about adding huge CUC because of the die off, I have found though that most of that die off is do to competition for limited resources. CUCs should be added slowly the same as any other member of your tank and you should only stock to the level your tank can naturally support (this may increase with an increase in the number of fish).

Your snails may be starving and the hermits just doing their job by cleaning up after them.
Weak/starving snails that end up on their backs normally can't turn back over and end up as hermit food.

I would suggest you just let things be for a bit and see if the hermit population starts to level out and only keep a few turbos to take care of the smooth surfaces (like glass or overflows).

there are 75 total, i have added them overtime. I added the last 20 about a month or so ago and never had that problem until now. The turbos were healthy as far as i could tell plenty of stuff for them to graze on. wife said she saw three of them on the back of the snails shell today in which she went and bought three more which i told her to watch closely. so they are going after them she had to get them off, 2 of which she caught which were big ones and threw them in the sump. there are plenty of empty shells, maybe i just need to get rid of some of the crabs

menthol · 11/15/2009, 07:40 AM

it might be that the turbo's are just dying, not too much diatoms. They dont eat any other kind of algae in my observation, just diatoms. Your crabs might just be munching on snail carcass, just a thought.

Try holloween hermits, they are the most reef safe of crabs, IMHO.

Frogmanx82 · 11/15/2009, 08:47 AM

I think turbos need a lot of food. I would only buy a couple at a time and see how the algae is balanced. With that many crabs, there may not be enough algae for them and they are starving.

goochesfish · 11/15/2009, 09:34 AM

I still think it's alot of hermits. I have a 150 and only have 2 blue legged and maybe 10 red and brown legged. I also have only 1 turbo. The rest of my ansils are astreas and trochus. I buy extra shells at Michael's (art store) but I boil them before placing in the tank.

11/14/2009, 01:56 PM	#1
rcranf1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ft Lewis WA Posts: 319	attack of the hermit crabs so I have about 75 total blue and red leg hermit crabs, which about 6 are rather large. I had 10 turbo snails about a month ago and one by one they started to disapperar. so i bought 10 more like 3 weeks ago and now there are none. my wife says she saw them darn crabs munching away at one. Just wondering if there not getting enough food, or is this just natural. I have 125 gallon tank which I feed once a day with a big cube of home made food. any thoughts Last edited by rcranf1; 11/14/2009 at 02:04 PM.

11/14/2009, 02:00 PM	#2
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	Where do you think hermit crabs get those shells from? __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

11/14/2009, 11:24 PM	#7
shellzreef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: south jersey Posts: 104	+1 betamed! __________________ PROUD TO BE A REEFER! No single snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible <3

11/14/2009, 11:56 PM	#8
Poeticlydead Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Missouri Posts: 414	75 blue and red leg hermits - so 75 total or of each, either way you seem to have way more then should be needed for that tank I doubt you will support that volume of CUC for any length of time. People typically talk about adding huge CUC because of the die off, I have found though that most of that die off is do to competition for limited resources. CUCs should be added slowly the same as any other member of your tank and you should only stock to the level your tank can naturally support (this may increase with an increase in the number of fish). Your snails may be starving and the hermits just doing their job by cleaning up after them. Weak/starving snails that end up on their backs normally can't turn back over and end up as hermit food. I would suggest you just let things be for a bit and see if the hermit population starts to level out and only keep a few turbos to take care of the smooth surfaces (like glass or overflows). __________________ No, I can't spell and no I don't care how it is spelled. Current Tank Info: 90gal reef tank, 40g FOWLR, couple of nanos Last edited by Poeticlydead; 11/15/2009 at 12:00 AM. Reason: can't spell

11/15/2009, 08:47 AM	#12
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	I think turbos need a lot of food. I would only buy a couple at a time and see how the algae is balanced. With that many crabs, there may not be enough algae for them and they are starving. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

11/14/2009, 02:10 PM	#4
Butterz Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 174	I did that same mistake a while ago. It was like a gang war between blue legged and white hermit crabs. I'm not sure what eats them, but I started putting what was left of my hermit crabs in my sump.

11/14/2009, 11:19 PM	#5
rcranf1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ft Lewis WA Posts: 319	bump

11/14/2009, 11:22 PM	#6
betamed Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cooper city fl Posts: 1,383	adding a bunch of empty shells will help. it seems the hermits want a home more than a meal most of the time.

11/15/2009, 07:40 AM	#11
menthol Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Philippines Posts: 147	it might be that the turbo's are just dying, not too much diatoms. They dont eat any other kind of algae in my observation, just diatoms. Your crabs might just be munching on snail carcass, just a thought. Try holloween hermits, they are the most reef safe of crabs, IMHO.

11/15/2009, 09:34 AM	#13
goochesfish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,305	I still think it's alot of hermits. I have a 150 and only have 2 blue legged and maybe 10 red and brown legged. I also have only 1 turbo. The rest of my ansils are astreas and trochus. I buy extra shells at Michael's (art store) but I boil them before placing in the tank. __________________ The Gooch, my Beagle, may she RIP 1995-2011 Current Tank Info: 150 gallon Starfire set up July 22,09, 30g QT