|
|||||||
wHY IS MY HERMIT CRAB EATING MY SNAILSInvertebrates A forum for your questions and issues on Invertebrates. |
 |
|
|
Thread Tools | Rate Thread | Display Modes |
|
#1
August 27th, 2008, 02:24 AM
|
|||
|
|||
wHY IS MY HERMIT CRAB EATING MY SNAILS
Hello,
I kinda new to the hobby, but everytime I buy a new snail my blue legged crab kills them?? He has taken one of the shells but why kill all 3 of them? The crab keeps changing from his original shell to the snail shell. My snails are the turbo snails. I have 2 red legged crabs that stay away from the blue legged crab. AI am afraid I will not have a good clean up crew? Any advice would be great!!! Current Aquarium(s) Description: 55g live rock live sand 3 chromis 1 blue legged hermit 3 snails Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 10 months 
|
| LivingReefs.com - Reef Aquarium Forum |
|
#2
August 27th, 2008, 02:27 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Re: wHY IS MY HERMIT CRAB EATING MY SNAILS
This is why a lot of people recommend having a hermit only or snail only CUC. Hermits tend to like to take snail shells.
As far as it killing the snails and not taking your shell... Maybe its not getting enouph food and it sees the snails as you feeding it? I dnno? Current Aquarium(s) Description: 150g, 24g,8g Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: About 1 Year Other Intrests: Computers, Robotics
|
|
#3
August 27th, 2008, 02:30 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Re: wHY IS MY HERMIT CRAB EATING MY SNAILS
Hermit crabs are known to kill snails. Granted in theory it is to get a bigger shell when they need it, but perhaps they can develope a taste for them. I know a few people on here will not keep them in their tank. That being said I have them and have no problems. Just throwing out a theory here, but are all the shells he has taken around the same size? perhaps he is still looking for one that fits right. maybe if you bought a few empty hermit shells of different sizes it would solve your problem. I had about 15 given to me with my hermits and I threw them in...I have no problems. I could be completely off base, but maybe it just needs options
Current Aquarium(s) Description: *72 gallon bowfront reef *55 gallon freshwater puffer/cichld tank Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: One Year
|
|
#4
August 27th, 2008, 03:23 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: wHY IS MY HERMIT CRAB EATING MY SNAILS
Thank you for the replies, My lfs gave me a bunch of different size shells when I bought the crab. I am so afraid of overfeeding maybe I'm not feeding enough.
Thank you again for the advice. Current Aquarium(s) Description: 55g live rock live sand 3 chromis 1 blue legged hermit 3 snails Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 10 months
|
|
#5
August 27th, 2008, 03:49 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Re: wHY IS MY HERMIT CRAB EATING MY SNAILS
Some hermits just have a thing for killing snails.They probably do eat them,but most of the time its to try the shell on.If the shell dont fit right,the hermit finds another one.
Thats the reason I took all the hermits out of my tank.
__________________
Hunt hard,shoot straight,kill clean,apologize to no one. Current Aquarium(s) Description: 75gal. reef,NE T-5s 432 watt ,CSS65 skimmer,Pro-Clear 125 wet/dry with mag5 return Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: Little over a year Other Intrests: Hunting,camping,fishing
|
|
#6
August 27th, 2008, 05:25 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Re: wHY IS MY HERMIT CRAB EATING MY SNAILS
That is the reason I hate them. I put all mine in the sump. I got tired of replacing snails. I had all types of empty shells for the hermits but they kept killing my snails. So now I have a hermit free DT.
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 120 with 30 sump Aquatinic Constellation T5 lighting Coralife Super Skimmer Koralia 2/3 Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 2 years and counting Other Intrests: Pig collector, Gardening
|
|
#7
August 28th, 2008, 02:19 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Re: wHY IS MY HERMIT CRAB EATING MY SNAILS
I also belong in the camp that will not add any more hermits to my tank for this reason. They are snail killers. Hermits are not necessary for a good cleaner crew.
__________________
"If we went to a Halloween party dressed as Batman and Robin, I'd go as Robin. That's how much you mean to me... " Sarah 
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 240-gallon reef with a 55-gallon sump and 35-gallon refugium Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 7 years
|
|
#8
August 28th, 2008, 07:52 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Re: wHY IS MY HERMIT CRAB EATING MY SNAILS
i have one hermit and it is in the sump
__________________
"Knowledge is Power"  James Daugherty 
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 75 gal Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 9 years Other Intrests: fishing,hunting,computers
|
Linear Mode
