How do you feed hermits?

[fish1031]

I got 4 new scarlet hermit crabs. It says they eat Algae, Flake, Algae Sheets... but how do I make sure they eat. I have put Algae Sheets and Flakes in the tank but have not seen them eat any yet (got Friday)

 

[travis89]

They will eat left over food from when you feed your fish along with the algae, they are probably eating at night or when your not around. If they are the only thing in the tank you could add a little food for them, but you shouldn't need to.

 

[hot883]

Don't try and feed them. They are scavangers. Make them do their jobs.

 

[fish1031]

okay cool. so are they nocturnal? they are with fish. do i need to get extra shells?

 

[travis89]

Yes they do need extra shells, and they will eat at night, I wouldn't worry about them, they will eat.

 

[nictavius]

I wouldn't add any shells for them unless they get really big.....don't really need to worry about it.....but if they do get to small they may attack snails to steal their shell.....if you even have snails.....

 

[fish1031]

no snails but they are small now like 3/4in

 

[travis89]

They need shells to move into as they get bigger, their shells don't grow with them like snails.

 

[katiev]

As hot said, make 'em do their job. For awhile, I didn't get why my sandbed was getting so green...then I decided to not feed for two days (only inverts in the tank at that point, and fed them a little bit of mysis daily) and like magic, the green was gone. If you have fish, you're hermits are getting fed through them.

 

[fish1031]

thanks everyone!

 

[alyssia]

They do need shells to move into as they grow, and you should get an assortment of shapes and sizes.