Grrrrrr....blueleg crabs!!!

[monalisa]

I just put a new population of snails in my tank...long after my first addition fo 6 astreas was wiped out...I put in 3 turbos, 5 astreas, and 10 cryias (sp?). I just put these guys in yesterday, and alreay one of my astreas has been killed by a blueleg crab...tonight I look in, and that same crab is crawling all over another astrea!!! What's going on???? I'm sure that I'm going to be down 2 astrea snails come tomorrow!!

Lisa :happyfish

 

[jcarroll]

When I got my crabs I asked my lfs for some empty shells. If they don't have shells to move into as they grow, they will kill snails for their shells. Most of the time your lfs should give you shells for free

 

[thegrog]

Calm down, not everything goes willingly into the circle of life.
One of two things is going on.
1. Your crabs are hungry. They are opportunistic scavangers and if an easy meal comes along they will take it if they are hungry. If a snail is sick/dying they will go after it. That is what they do. Perhaps feeding them a small piece of squid or clam once or twice a week can help.
2. They need new homes. They do outgrow their shell and when they see a new shell they like, they will fight/kill to get it if necessary. Provide ample empty shells for them to move into so they will hopefully go after the easy shells rather than the hard ones.

 

[rickd]

Lisa ive lost 5 turbo's about 3 blue legs and 3 scarlets all the the last week the turbo's fall off the rocks and land upside down in the back off my rocks so i guess ill have new homes soon for someone so i fell your pain.

not sure about the hermits all i find is the shells on them. :notsure:

 

[mudplayerx]

Ya need to stick to the big mexican turbo snails. They are about 1 inch in diameter and the hermit crabs will not bother them.

 

[bigarn]

Just don't get to many Mexican turbos ..... Rule of thumb is 1 per 20 gallons I believe.

 

[bacffin]

I have 1 Mexican in my 45 and he is a bruiser. Does a great job cleaning and it's only been 3 days. I'm waiting for him to start digging and blasting to build the foundation to his new house...

 

[mudplayerx]

Yer right bigarn if yer quoting the saltwaterfish guidelines I have 5 in a 55 gallon and they are fine, but that may be because i have hellafied lighting which leads to algae on the glass....and I only clean it off the front panel. The side and back panels are a smorgasboard for the mexicans.

 

[bigarn]

You got it Mud ..... as long as they have a good supply of algae they should do fine.

 

[us~^>shark]

Originally Posted by mudplayerx
Ya need to stick to the big mexican turbo snails. They are about 1 inch in diameter and the hermit crabs will not bother them.

I agree. I had astreas at first.... all dead. I added the large turbos and not only do they do a great job on the glass and rock, they haven't been touched by anyone. I think they are more interesting to watch too.

 

[trainfever]

Originally Posted by MudplayerX
Ya need to stick to the big mexican turbo snails. They are about 1 inch in diameter and the hermit crabs will not bother them
Tell that to my hermits. They killed both of my Mexican turbos and now their shells are waiting for new inhabitants.