To have crabs or not to have crabs?

[jcsurfn]

I have herd a lot of different people say they dont like having hermit crabs in there clean up crew. Then I have also herd a lot of people that have hermit crabs in the clean up crew. I know that the blue leg hermits are a little more aggresive then some of the others. So here is a poll it is just yes to have them or no do not have them and go with soemthing else. you can post you opinion here also.
Thank You

 

[deyoe757]

Go see a doctor quick if you have crabs...oops wrong forum

 

[gregzbobo]

right now I only have two crabs in my aquarium, because I really don't need more than that I don't think. I may eventually get a few more here and there when I start getting more live rock and up the bioload with a couple more fish though.

 

[nacl-h2o]

I believe they should be used in moderation Like a 72g with 5 scarlets and a 125g with 7 scarlets, no sallys, arrows or emeralds. I use snails instead.

 

[gregzbobo]

I feel the same, I just bought a sort of package deal with my lfs, 10 astreas and 10 nassarius snails for 25 bucks, and the nassarius came with a pound of live sand to boot.

 

[oceanjumper]

In addition to my hermits, I also started with 3 emerald crabs. One of them started to pick on my mushrooms and I removed it. The other two just pick rocks and eat veggies as caulerpa, bubble algae and other macro's. I have not (yet) had a problem with macro's in my display. Thanks to my emeralds!

 

[fugz]

Heh, yah i agree. im looking to get a good size clean up crew for my tank but im having a hard tiem deciding. I hear good and bad about both snails & crabs. So i have been thinkin about it for a few days, although i think i am leaning towards crabs

 

[broomer5]

I add hermits and snails as needed.
I pack'em in !
Yeah it gets tough in there sometimes - and they attack each other.
I get more then - they're cheap in comparison to the headaches of nuisance alage.
They are just one part of a balanced reef tank IMO, and are wonderful janitors.

 

[jcsurfn]

Well where did all the people go that did not like ahve the hermit crabs?

 

[fshhub]

I prefer not to have them, we are almost clawless(no crabs). With the exception of ONE Emerald, for velonia control.
I do not personally want hermit crabs. We do have them in the tank at work, and they do a good job cleaning, but I still do not like thema nd we have to kep a stock of snails for htem too. Ours seem to not want the empty snail shells, but make new empty ones instead.

 

[jcsurfn]

This is the last time for this post to come around also. I am just looking for a few more votes and or comments.
Thank You

 

[iechy]

I have many kinds of crabs. I know they are part of many peoples clean up crews but that is not really why I bought them. I like having the variety of creatures in there. Crabs are really fun to watch like when they fight and one rips off another's claw.

 

[dburr]

I voted no, but I really have one. Only 1 in my 100 gal. Every other crab I put in their killed each other. I have the champion, survival of the fittest.
I may buy 1 more for the 55 gal refuge, not sure yet.
I have a bunch of different snails like astreas, nassarius, and tiger something that eat hair algea.(I always forget their name ).
Other janitors are cucumber, cleaner shimp and searpant star.
My spotted bristle tooth tang keeps pecking at the sand also and keeps that clean and stirred.
HTH

 

[legion]

I have 2-sallys and 10-blue hermits.