Hermit Crabs and Their Shells

Emigs21 · 02/25/2017, 04:12 PM

So I recently set up my 40 gallon breeder. I have about 8 or 9 hermits and 5 turbo snails right now. I was wondering if the Hermits will use empty snail shells as opposed to killing each other or the snails for their shells. I threw a bunch of dmlty snail shells in and want to know if that works or not.

Emigs21 · 02/25/2017, 04:13 PM

**empty

Goatonfly · 02/25/2017, 04:14 PM

They will use anything they can find. I lost a snail, couldn't find him for 9 months until a crab was using the shell one day.

Emigs21 · 02/25/2017, 04:18 PM

Ok cool, just wondering if there was any point of having these empty snail shells in the tank or not. Thanks!

Chicagoreef2016 · 02/25/2017, 05:30 PM

My hermits are constantly killing my snails. And then taking their shells.

WatDatThing · 02/25/2017, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicagoreef2016

My hermits are constantly killing my snails. And then taking their shells.

Same here. Only my turbos survive the blue legged hermit.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

CrayolaViolence · 02/25/2017, 07:48 PM

hermits are cold blooded killers. I have even lost a few small turbos to them. Even with hundreds of shells in the bottom of the tank ready to be used, they will still take a snail's shell. Dinner and a home...

Scuba_Steve · 02/25/2017, 11:56 PM

It is all luck. The only thing is, they will change shells. By providing them shells, you are lessening the chance that they will kill a snail. Don't worry too much though. Buy plenty of snails, and they will be just fine. Worst case scenario, snails are fairly cheap!

NYCBOB · 02/26/2017, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

It is all luck. The only thing is, they will change shells. By providing them shells, you are lessening the chance that they will kill a snail. Don't worry too much though. Buy plenty of snails, and they will be just fine. Worst case scenario, snails are fairly cheap!

snail lives matter!

gone fishin · 02/26/2017, 09:18 AM

I eventually decided to just use snails. I got tired of the snail jackings.

anthonys51 · 02/26/2017, 10:22 AM

I use both. Yes I do see hermits in snail shells but then again I really don't care. Only think I will say about hermits is they devour gha I have 3 scarlet red claws in my 80 frag tank. I got 45 frags from someone covered in gha. Well that was Friday night at 10pm. Today not a single frag has gha on it. So they might kill snails but let me see 3 snails clean 45 frags of gha in 36 hours.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WLachnit · 02/26/2017, 12:12 PM

Do some species eat GHA better than others?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

anthonys51 · 02/26/2017, 12:41 PM

i only have kept 3 the tiny dwaft blue legs, the red scarlet leg hermits and the Halloween hermit.
the tiny blue legs are too tiny to do anything, well at least in my 265, but i feel they get into the tiniest cracks others cant. probably not doing much but at only 1 buck each i bought 30. the Halloweens are too big and knock over to many things and the scarlets are gha and algae eating machines. i think the key to crabs is not buy too many. if you put 15 crabs in with 15 snails in a brand new tank with no food , what do you expect the hermits to do. i would start with 3 in a 40 gallon and maybe total of 6 snails and 6 nassaui snails for the sand if you have and thats it

monkeysee1 · 02/26/2017, 07:26 PM

Quote:

My hermits are constantly killing my snails. And then taking their shells.

Yep. They ARE little beasts! I made the mistake of ordering a cleaner package from Reef Cleaners when I had fifteen or so blue legged hermits in my tank. ALL of my Ceriths were wiped out within two weeks! Munch city!

I've heard the RED LEGGED hermits are a little bit more docile and better behaved towards snails. But I don't know for sure if that's true!
Fellow posters??

anthonys51 · 02/26/2017, 07:28 PM

My snails are still with my 3 years later but I also didn't add 100 snails and hermits like the packages say

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tmnigat · 02/26/2017, 08:46 PM

Hermit crabs are jerks :/

djbon · 02/26/2017, 10:09 PM

They will grab one that looks appealing to them, even a living snail shell. Killing one another for better housing is what they do in the wild.

Mr06evo · 02/27/2017, 06:45 AM

My hermits kill each other and my snails and then take their shells.

homer1475 · 02/27/2017, 06:50 AM

I've had the same 6 red leg hermits for the last 3 years with the same snails. I've even put more shells in for the hermits, but all mine still live in their original shells and have not killed a single snail for its shell. YMMV

CrayolaViolence · 02/27/2017, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

I've had the same 6 red leg hermits for the last 3 years with the same snails. I've even put more shells in for the hermits, but all mine still live in their original shells and have not killed a single snail for its shell. YMMV

That's just what they want you to think.

anthonys51 · 02/27/2017, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrayolaViolence

That's just what they want you to think.

Lol.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SPR1968 · 02/27/2017, 11:28 AM

I made the mistake of adding some large shells for them thinking it would make them a nice home and they wouldn't kill my snails.

I didn't realise that they would also grow into them and I produced 2 mighty hermit killers that were eating all sorts including other crabs and snails.

My LFS advised me to put them to work in the sump so they are currently in solitary keeping my sump clean. I hear them banging around and clinking on the glass!

WatDatThing · 02/27/2017, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPR1968

My LFS advised me to put them to work in the sump so they are currently in solitary keeping my sump clean. I hear them banging around and clinking on the glass!

Your HC must be on steroids.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

marper331 · 02/27/2017, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPR1968

I made the mistake of adding some large shells for them thinking it would make them a nice home and they wouldn't kill my snails.

I didn't realise that they would also grow into them and I produced 2 mighty hermit killers that were eating all sorts including other crabs and snails.

My LFS advised me to put them to work in the sump so they are currently in solitary keeping my sump clean. I hear them banging around and clinking on the glass!

same here, I took out a couple of large hermits and have confined them to the refugium. lol

Nola70115 · 02/27/2017, 07:29 PM

My snails take food away from the hermits, and the hermits just stand there like dopes. I have bizarrely bloodthirsty snails, it seems.

02/25/2017, 04:12 PM	#1
Emigs21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 10	Hermit Crabs and Their Shells So I recently set up my 40 gallon breeder. I have about 8 or 9 hermits and 5 turbo snails right now. I was wondering if the Hermits will use empty snail shells as opposed to killing each other or the snails for their shells. I threw a bunch of dmlty snail shells in and want to know if that works or not.

02/25/2017, 07:48 PM	#7
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	hermits are cold blooded killers. I have even lost a few small turbos to them. Even with hundreds of shells in the bottom of the tank ready to be used, they will still take a snail's shell. Dinner and a home... __________________ "The good thing about science is that it's true whether you believe it or not." Neil deGrasse Tyson Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef tank

02/25/2017, 11:56 PM	#8
Scuba_Steve Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pooler, Ga Posts: 1,342	It is all luck. The only thing is, they will change shells. By providing them shells, you are lessening the chance that they will kill a snail. Don't worry too much though. Buy plenty of snails, and they will be just fine. Worst case scenario, snails are fairly cheap! __________________ 40g DIY AIO. DT Size is 27"x18"x17" SCA-301 skimmer, DIY ATS 4"x4" 1 cube setup, Ocean Revive 120w LED, Quiet One 3000, Jager 150w TBS Rock

02/26/2017, 09:18 AM	#10
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I eventually decided to just use snails. I got tired of the snail jackings. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

02/26/2017, 12:12 PM	#12
WLachnit Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,722	Do some species eat GHA better than others? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk __________________ (1) 300g mixed reef (Starfire DT) + 100g Sump (2) 100g Softie tank (Starfire DT) My Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263472

02/25/2017, 04:13 PM	#2
Emigs21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 10	**empty

02/25/2017, 04:14 PM	#3
Goatonfly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 113	They will use anything they can find. I lost a snail, couldn't find him for 9 months until a crab was using the shell one day.

02/25/2017, 04:18 PM	#4
Emigs21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 10	Ok cool, just wondering if there was any point of having these empty snail shells in the tank or not. Thanks!

02/25/2017, 05:30 PM	#5
Chicagoreef2016 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 315	My hermits are constantly killing my snails. And then taking their shells.

02/26/2017, 10:22 AM	#11
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	I use both. Yes I do see hermits in snail shells but then again I really don't care. Only think I will say about hermits is they devour gha I have 3 scarlet red claws in my 80 frag tank. I got 45 frags from someone covered in gha. Well that was Friday night at 10pm. Today not a single frag has gha on it. So they might kill snails but let me see 3 snails clean 45 frags of gha in 36 hours. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

02/26/2017, 12:41 PM	#13
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	i only have kept 3 the tiny dwaft blue legs, the red scarlet leg hermits and the Halloween hermit. the tiny blue legs are too tiny to do anything, well at least in my 265, but i feel they get into the tiniest cracks others cant. probably not doing much but at only 1 buck each i bought 30. the Halloweens are too big and knock over to many things and the scarlets are gha and algae eating machines. i think the key to crabs is not buy too many. if you put 15 crabs in with 15 snails in a brand new tank with no food , what do you expect the hermits to do. i would start with 3 in a 40 gallon and maybe total of 6 snails and 6 nassaui snails for the sand if you have and thats it

02/26/2017, 07:28 PM	#15
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	My snails are still with my 3 years later but I also didn't add 100 snails and hermits like the packages say Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

02/26/2017, 08:46 PM	#16
tmnigat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 93	Hermit crabs are jerks :/

02/26/2017, 10:09 PM	#17
djbon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, MY Posts: 813	They will grab one that looks appealing to them, even a living snail shell. Killing one another for better housing is what they do in the wild. __________________ 75 gallon DT, 5 gallon sump, DIY LED bar with moonlight, DIY Arduino controller Current Tank Info: 75 gallon/Arduino Controller

02/27/2017, 06:45 AM	#18
Mr06evo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 83	My hermits kill each other and my snails and then take their shells.

02/27/2017, 06:50 AM	#19
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I've had the same 6 red leg hermits for the last 3 years with the same snails. I've even put more shells in for the hermits, but all mine still live in their original shells and have not killed a single snail for its shell. YMMV __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

02/27/2017, 11:28 AM	#22
SPR1968 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Nottinghamshire England Posts: 56	I made the mistake of adding some large shells for them thinking it would make them a nice home and they wouldn't kill my snails. I didn't realise that they would also grow into them and I produced 2 mighty hermit killers that were eating all sorts including other crabs and snails. My LFS advised me to put them to work in the sump so they are currently in solitary keeping my sump clean. I hear them banging around and clinking on the glass! __________________ Shaun Current Tank Info: 2016 Red Sea Max S 650 LED Black Reef Tank

02/27/2017, 07:29 PM	#25
Nola70115 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 17	My snails take food away from the hermits, and the hermits just stand there like dopes. I have bizarrely bloodthirsty snails, it seems.