Snail Only... Anyone Else?

bu11itt · 06/06/2013, 07:59 PM

After getting tired of my dwindling population of snails (especially the nassarius snails who have a very beneficial purpose) and watching my hermit crabs flaunt their new "cribs" in my face from the remains of their most recent kill, I have decided to trade all my hermits in and go snail only for a CUC (aside from the odd assortment of worms, pods, stars, etc... of course).

Just curious how many others share my same sentiment and have evicted all crabs from their tanks.

NeilFox · 06/06/2013, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bu11itt

After getting tired of my dwindling population of snails (especially the nassarius snails who have a very beneficial purpose) and watching my hermit crabs flaunt their new "cribs" in my face from the remains of their most recent kill, I have decided to trade all my hermits in and go snail only for a CUC (aside from the odd assortment of worms, pods, stars, etc... of course).

Just curious how many others share my same sentiment and have evicted all crabs from their tanks.

I don't have either in my tank at the moment. They aren't redily available here. I would take snails over crabs any day. Asterinas are my personal favorite. I hate big Mexican Turbo's. Crabs can be as destructive as the day is long....

SpartaReef · 06/06/2013, 08:12 PM

I have green emerald and porcelain crabs, but no hermits very same reason. Snails only IMO.

tatuaje08 · 06/06/2013, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilFox

I don't have either in my tank at the moment. They aren't redily available here. I would take snails over crabs any day. Asterinas are my personal favorite. I hate big Mexican Turbo's. Crabs can be as destructive as the day is long....

Asterinas are sea stars, not snails.

TimeConsumer · 06/07/2013, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tatuaje08

Asterinas are sea stars, not snails.

I think he might mean Astrea snails. And trust me, they can get to be almost the size of a mexican turbo, mine are massive. I personally like hermits, yes they like to kill my snails for no reason, but that's not a big deal to me. I have to replace carbon, GFO, bulbs, water, RO/DI filters, calc, alk, mag, I might as well replace snails too.

dfm34 · 06/07/2013, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bu11itt

After getting tired of my dwindling population of snails (especially the nassarius snails who have a very beneficial purpose) and watching my hermit crabs flaunt their new "cribs" in my face from the remains of their most recent kill, I have decided to trade all my hermits in and go snail only for a CUC (aside from the odd assortment of worms, pods, stars, etc... of course).

Just curious how many others share my same sentiment and have evicted all crabs from their tanks.

Past tanks had hermits they drove me nuts for the same reason. Current tank only has assorted snails a brittle star and a cleaner shrimp. I am avoiding crabs like the plague.

mcrbar910 · 06/07/2013, 05:25 AM

I never wanted crabs to start with. LFS employee didn't know his stuff and I ended up picking out 5!

Spyderturbo007 · 06/07/2013, 07:03 AM

I have some and they don't bother my snails. I do have an abundance of empty shells at the back of the tank for them to use if they want. I bought a bag at the LFS and threw them in behind my rock work.

HumbleFish · 06/07/2013, 07:24 AM

I got rid of all my hermits when I upgraded tanks. Haven't lost a snail since. Although I admit I do miss watching them truck around the tank sometimes...

cilyjr · 06/07/2013, 07:52 AM

Forthe same reason I have gone the opposite approach. I prefer the crabs over the snails. I prefer their detritus control over the algae eating over the snails. That being said I do still have a few Nassarius snails in the tank. However most of my sandbed is taken care of by worms. My main algae control is from sea hares.
I do admit I have to run a mag float across the glass often but I am not sure that's due entirely to the lack of snails.

Donkeykong · 06/07/2013, 11:51 AM

I have 2 or 3 left, I like seeing them crawl around but since there is only a couple they have only a very minimal impact on the snails.

reefgoddess808 · 06/07/2013, 01:55 PM

I have about 100 snails of various species in my tank along with one large hermit and one large emeral crab. The hermit is too big for any of the snails shells and I add empty shells for him to move into. He does a good job so I would say one crab per 50 gals and you should be ok. But if you don't think you need one I say skip it.

06/06/2013, 07:59 PM	#1
bu11itt Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Southwest, LA Posts: 122	Snail Only... Anyone Else? After getting tired of my dwindling population of snails (especially the nassarius snails who have a very beneficial purpose) and watching my hermit crabs flaunt their new "cribs" in my face from the remains of their most recent kill, I have decided to trade all my hermits in and go snail only for a CUC (aside from the odd assortment of worms, pods, stars, etc... of course). Just curious how many others share my same sentiment and have evicted all crabs from their tanks. __________________ - bu11itt

06/06/2013, 08:12 PM	#3
SpartaReef Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Sparta, Wisconsin Posts: 783	I have green emerald and porcelain crabs, but no hermits very same reason. Snails only IMO.

06/07/2013, 05:25 AM	#7
mcrbar910 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 233	I never wanted crabs to start with. LFS employee didn't know his stuff and I ended up picking out 5!

06/07/2013, 07:03 AM	#8
Spyderturbo007 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: PA Posts: 2,564	I have some and they don't bother my snails. I do have an abundance of empty shells at the back of the tank for them to use if they want. I bought a bag at the LFS and threw them in behind my rock work.

06/07/2013, 07:24 AM	#9
HumbleFish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 4,757	I got rid of all my hermits when I upgraded tanks. Haven't lost a snail since. Although I admit I do miss watching them truck around the tank sometimes...

06/07/2013, 07:52 AM	#10
cilyjr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,683	Forthe same reason I have gone the opposite approach. I prefer the crabs over the snails. I prefer their detritus control over the algae eating over the snails. That being said I do still have a few Nassarius snails in the tank. However most of my sandbed is taken care of by worms. My main algae control is from sea hares. I do admit I have to run a mag float across the glass often but I am not sure that's due entirely to the lack of snails.

06/07/2013, 11:51 AM	#11
Donkeykong Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grover Beach CA Posts: 1,847	I have 2 or 3 left, I like seeing them crawl around but since there is only a couple they have only a very minimal impact on the snails.

06/07/2013, 01:55 PM	#12
reefgoddess808 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Eastern North Carolina Posts: 382	I have about 100 snails of various species in my tank along with one large hermit and one large emeral crab. The hermit is too big for any of the snails shells and I add empty shells for him to move into. He does a good job so I would say one crab per 50 gals and you should be ok. But if you don't think you need one I say skip it.