Acclimating cleanup crew

[sage_commander]

I'm going to pick up a few snails ansd hermits today. Do they need to be acclimated like fish? Would the airline/drip method be OK, or is it overkill? Thanks.

[alan214]

No, the airline drip method is really a good idea for the hermits. Since you're doing it for them, you might as well do it for the snails, too.

[kevin2000]

I am not sure whether there is a consensus on this issue ... many acclimate but many just drop in. I prefer acclimation and don't think there is any downside. If starfish are part of your cleanup crew then you definitely should go through a protracted acclimation.

[sage_commander]

What kind of time frame are we talking? The LFS is less than ten minutes from my house. Would a half-hour of drips be OK?

[sage_commander]

I'm not getting any starfish at this time. There were plenty of them on the live rock I bought.

[alan214]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10063255#post10063255 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kevin2000
I am not sure whether there is a consensus on this issue ... many acclimate but many just drop in. I prefer acclimation and don't think there is any downside. If starfish are part of your cleanup crew then you definitely should go through a protracted acclimation.

Kevin's right. I just started a poll in the Reef Discussion forum and so far it's pretty much even but the "No Acclimation" votes are a little bit ahead.

[davefan13]

you could always go with the option of replacing half the water every 10 minutes or whatever, instead of drip acclimating, but i think that the drip would be easier.

[alexb518]

if people are able to drop hermits and snails right in w/o acclimating, please share your success rate. if this is really the case, it can save others hours of time.

[Wett Hands]

For what it's worth:

I have about 30-35 snails in 3 FW and 1 SW tank. Never acclimated any of them and absolutely no deaths as a result.

But that dosent mean that I'm right, just lucky. :D I contribute it to mature tanks with very stable params (at least for my FW tanks that is)

I do acclimate everything else however.

[Nano Chris]

I acclimate everything i put in the tank at least an hour or more, rather be safe than sorry.

[salty3]

If its just snails I get them to stick to the glass above the water line and let them acclimate them selves, if hermits I just add water to the bag every 10 to 20 mins. Thats how I have always done it and have had no deaths yet.

[SeanySean]

Same as Salty3 unless the fish looks very stressed. I also try to keep my sg and ph the same as my lfs so I think that helps a lot

[alan214]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10064569#post10064569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by salty3
If its just snails I get them to stick to the glass above the water line and let them acclimate them selves, if hermits I just add water to the bag every 10 to 20 mins. Thats how I have always done it and have had no deaths yet.

Sorry, but even if it works, that's not acclimating! Acclimating means going from one water condition (pH, SG, temp, etc.) to another water condition.

You're allowing the snail to "acclimate" from air to water.

[salty3]

Ok then, I let them get use to it them selves.

[Juiblex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10064569#post10064569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by salty3
if hermits I just add water to the bag every 10 to 20 mins. Thats how I have always done it and have had no deaths yet.

I do the same for all of my cleanup crew. Essentially the same thing I used to do for my freshwater fish. I'd float the bag for a few minutes to get the temerature the same... then add bits of water to the bag every few minutes.

Of course, I am only talking run of the mill stuff here like hermits, snails, and some pepermint shrimp.

I wouldn't do this to a starfish, as described above.

[tropicalfishguy]

whenever we get a shipment of hermits with water (normally are shipped without) we do not acclimate them, as far as losses, In my opinion there is a 0% difference whether they are acclimated or not, and I acclimate (or don't ) lots of animals, I sometimes acclimate fish, but only for 15-20 mins, and that as well appears no more benifical then a long drawn out acclimation period. IMO

[sage_commander]

The LFS told us to add a cup of water to the bag every ten minutes or so for about a half-hour. We got an Emerald crab, four hermits, and five snails. All look pretty good so far (it's been about four hours), except one of the snails hasn't moved yet that I have noticed. I guess we'll see how they're doing in the morning.

Thanks everyone, as usual, for your input. I would have pulled out most of my hair if not for this forum.

[Gdevine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10063843#post10063843 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alexb518
if people are able to drop hermits and snails right in w/o acclimating, please share your success rate. if this is really the case, it can save others hours of time.

I've never acclimated a snail or a hermit. Just plopped them I and NEVER had a problemo...ever! Never heard of my friends ever having a problem either.