Snails & Hermits

[microview]

A few weeks ago I added a cleaning crew to my 30g. They have done a FABULOUS job on cleaning up the hair algae off the LR. I have also noticed that the blue-legged hermits LOVE to stalk and kill the snails. Also, I noticed many of the snails died (or were dead) shortly after I put them in the tank. I thought snails were pretty hardy? All my chemical parameters are right on. I have checked them once a week since adding the cleaning crew and the rest of the livestock appear to be doing well. I guess my question is; is it common for the hermits to go after the snails? Why might have most of the Nassarius and Turbo/Astrea snails (and the larger scarlet hermits) died? What (if anything) should I be concerned about...?

 

[spanko]

May be you acclimation of them to your tank. They are not as hardy as folks think and need to be dripped or floated with added tank water every 10-15 minutes or so for about 1-1.5 hours.
Now some are going to say :I just put them in after floating them for a few minutes and have not had a problem:
I believe you but my stance is still better to be diligent about acclimation to take it out of the equation as a possible source of dead animals.
I am just sayin...........................

 

[microview]

Honestly, I can say I simply floated them... BUT, that's what was recommended by swf.com. The fish on the otherhand, were very diligently drip acclimated as you suggested (and as was recommended by swf.com). Still, why am I losing the snails now? (It's nearly three weeks since introduction.) Is it because they are compromised somehow and the hermits are simply taking advantage of this or are the hermits simply that aggrersive about going after snails?

 

[spanko]

Hermits can be killing machines. They are opportunistic feeders especially if they are hungry.
You may have the Manson Clan of hermits in your tank.

 

[microview]

I am beginning to believe it...

but they do such a nice job on the algae, I guess I am willing to look the other way (assuming all else is ok). I do have a larger Mexican Turbo snail they don't seem to touch.