Hermits eating all my snails

b2bwest

b2bwest

Member
Lately I have noticed that my snails are disappearing. So, I started looking a little closer between rocks and found that a hermit, or group of hermits would be grabbing the snails and eating them.
Anyone else have this problem?
I think my hermits are blue leg hermits (bought from this site). Are other hermits better?
My really large turbo snails are still fine, but my cerith, margarita and my other smaller snails (can't remember names of them) are all disappearing quickly.
I'm having algae problems already, so I don't really want to increase feeding. (red/purple algae growing all over the sand, and now a brownish type growing in some areas of sand and on LR).
 
U

usirchchris

Guest
Originally Posted by b2bwest
http:///forum/post/2627663
Lately I have noticed that my snails are disappearing. So, I started looking a little closer between rocks and found that a hermit, or group of hermits would be grabbing the snails and eating them.
Anyone else have this problem?
I think my hermits are blue leg hermits (bought from this site). Are other hermits better?
My really large turbo snails are still fine, but my cerith, margarita and my other smaller snails (can't remember names of them) are all disappearing quickly.
I'm having algae problems already, so I don't really want to increase feeding. (red/purple algae growing all over the sand, and now a brownish type growing in some areas of sand and on LR).

Yeah, mine do this as well. Might try to feed your crabs more if possible...if you have a ton of them you can't really target feed. All in all it's probably wise to choose one or the other unless you can handle the occasional casualty jmho.
 
b2bwest

b2bwest

Member
So all hermits will do that?
I have a 125 gallon tank, lots of rock and hard to find all the hermits -- so target feeding would be difficult.
I need the snails to clean the algae on the glass.
SO, if I lose the hermits, what do I put in to do their job of cleaning up uneaten food?
 
coraljunky

coraljunky

Active Member
Hermits will also kill snails to steal their shell. Try to provide the crabs with larger empty shells as they grow.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by b2bwest
http:///forum/post/2627680
So all hermits will do that?
A crab's gotta do what a crab's gotta do. They are opportunistic omnivores that rarely pass up the chance for a meal.
SO, if I lose the hermits, what do I put in to do their job of cleaning up uneaten food?

A variety of Bristleworms.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
I used to have many snails and a few hermits. The hermits got to snails that were on the sand or rock. The snails were not sick or dying. I tried adding extra shells, that didn't work. I now have several crabs sporting turbo snail shells. I also have empty shells still lying there. It is what they do.
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
i've tried the "assortment of empty shells" trick, and i tried the feeding trick. i've come to the conclusion that hermits will kill snails and change shells just for the hell of it. it's just their instinct. i've witnessed a hermit kill 3 snails in one week, and wear 3 different shells.
the best advice is to buy more snails every so often, or get used to a mag float(way better for cleaning the glass than snails anyway).
 
jeffr259

jeffr259

Member
Originally Posted by Aqua_Scaping
http:///forum/post/2627742
mine gave up on my snil and started chowing down on all my smaller fan worms
i bet you peple seen yous do that
Yup, had a nice piece of LR with probably 20 small fan worms on it...I was really enjoying watching them. Until my Blue Leg HC's found the rock. No its barren and fan worm-less
 
jeffr259

jeffr259

Member
Originally Posted by Aqua_Scaping
http:///forum/post/2627742
mine gave up on my snil and started chowing down on all my smaller fan worms
i bet you peple seen yous do that
Yup, had a nice piece of LR with probably 20 small fan worms on it...I was really enjoying watching them. Until my Blue Leg HC's found the rock. Now its barren and fan worm-less
 
b2bwest

b2bwest

Member
So I guess what I'm hearing is, crabs are more important than snails.
I too have tried the assorment of empty shells. My crabs aren't taking the snail shells, just eating them and leaving the shells alone.
I still clean the glass manually, I just like using the snails for the rock and some in/on the sand.
Anything else that will clean the rock and sand of algae?
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
My hermits are killing each other and right now leaving all snails alone. Every week I see a set of hermit legs under a rock. I'm tempted to get rid of the hermits all together too. In my 55 I have 2 hermits dragging a large Mexican Turbo shell around. Looks pretty funny.
 
notsonoob

notsonoob

Member
Probably about 7/8 of my snail demise is that they fall upside down and can't revert themselves.
I would just keep adding snails as they are benificial to the aquarium along with the crabs. Eventually you'll have enough empty shells to keep the empty shell per crab in unison.
I also spot feed the sand every couple of days.
I've labeled Asteras as a consumable in my tanks.
It is what it is.
 
metweezer

metweezer

Active Member
I have heard that Astreas are snails that can't right themselves when they fall over. But Ceriths, Nerites and Nassarius can right themselves.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Snails that are in good health do not fall off of the rock nor the glass. If they fall then something is wrong. I only have a few hermits. Snails do a much better job than hermits ever could. If you have the choice then don't buy many hermits.
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
i agree. my hermits never did much of anything but kill things. i don't even favor snails. my tank is fine without either. i have some emerald crabs, but they are basically in the tank for visual amusement. they are not much better than the hermits.
 
mp32

mp32

Member
MrX, Sep, for those of us following this thread, that have not bought any CUC yet, what do you suggest, hermits, or no hermits? I was looking at reef packages on this site, but now this has me wondering if I should just build my own without the hermits. Not trying to hijack the thread but it would be good info for all to consider when purchasing their CUC.
 
b2bwest

b2bwest

Member
Originally Posted by mp32
http:///forum/post/2629179
MrX, Sep, for those of us following this thread, that have not bought any CUC yet, what do you suggest, hermits, or no hermits? I was looking at reef packages on this site, but now this has me wondering if I should just build my own without the hermits. Not trying to hijack the thread but it would be good info for all to consider when purchasing their CUC.
Bump.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by mp32
http:///forum/post/2629179
MrX, Sep, for those of us following this thread, that have not bought any CUC yet, what do you suggest, hermits, or no hermits? I was looking at reef packages on this site, but now this has me wondering if I should just build my own without the hermits. Not trying to hijack the thread but it would be good info for all to consider when purchasing their CUC.
Building your own package is a good idea. Some people like hermits. I wouldn't get them again. A variety of snails is a good idea. They eat different things.
 
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