catching your own inverts

[dingo0722]

I live in the Northeast and do alot of diving. I have come across numerous dive locations that have amazing amounts of snails and hermit crabs. Has anyone caught their own critters and introduced them to their tank with success and if so what quarintine process should I consider doing.

 

[speg]

I went to the beach and brought several things back. A gorgonian that I found.. lived for a couple months then finally died. Got a purple urchine that would grab hermits and stick them to its back.. he went to the LFS... a couple olive snails... they went to the LFS.. a brown legged hermit.. havent seen him in a while.. some macro algae... mexican turbos ate it in a day...

 

[bret61081]

I live in SOFL and while I was cycling my tank, I was at a rocky beach and found about 30 Blue leg hermits they are still in my tank and doing great...I would put anything coming directly from the ocean in a QT for a while b4 adding it to my main tank...thats why Iadded them while cycling....good luck if you try it!

 

[fishieness]

i also live in the northeast and last time i went to the beach i saw tons and tons and tons of hermits. i was going to pick them up and take a bunch, but i noticed that every larger one i saw was grabbing onto a small one. I would have some literaly walk a few feet over to me jsut to pinch my toes!! They were too agressive so i decided not to
if you do definatly use a QT and if you can, find out what type everything is and what the behavior is

 

[ophiura]

DEFINITELY not suggested.
First, it can be illegal in certain areas.
Second, you have a major temperature issue - you do not have reef temps and most animals in your area will die at reef temps.
Third, most of those hermits and snails are NOT reef safe, and pose a serious threat to your animals. I would never put them in, unless you are an invertebrate zoologist and can get a definitive ID of the animals and what their diet is. Not all snails are herbivores, and most hermits are actually not all that nice at all.
Definitely don't recommend it (unless you are keeping a biotope - local - tank).

 

[fishnerd]

Originally Posted by ophiura
DEFINITELY not suggested.
First, it can be illegal in certain areas.
Second, you have a major temperature issue - you do not have reef temps and most animals in your area will die at reef temps.
Third, most of those hermits and snails are NOT reef safe, and pose a serious threat to your animals. I would never put them in, unless you are an invertebrate zoologist and can get a definitive ID of the animals and what their diet is. Not all snails are herbivores, and most hermits are actually not all that nice at all.
Definitely don't recommend it (unless you are keeping a biotope - local - tank).
100% correct, especially the temperature issues.

 

[sw65galma]

Ya i already asked...cuz I'm right there with ya bud...down in brockton..