Snail Murder

[David G]

He everyone,

I am new to this obsession and currently have a 55 gal tank that is currently fowlr. I began stocking with my clean up crew and put in 10 hermits and 6 snails. I have lost three crabs to some unknown reason of demise but I have witnessed the murder of my snails by the crabs. Seems the crabs want to jack my snails living quarters so what used to look like snails is now a crab inside. I currently have one snail left. Is this a start-up issue or when I put new snails in the tank, will the crabs just want a new shell because it is new or different? Or are they just up-sizing and will stop the murdering until they need a bigger house?

Just wondering?????????
David G

 

[little_fish]

It is pretty standard for hermit crabs to murder snails for their shell. You can slow this down by adding extra shells for them, but once they get a taste for snail they often hunt them just for fun.

And you might be seeing the molt, they look a lot like a dead body but have no meat.

 

[SarahSmile]

Yup yup, crabs are mean. I only have 2 in my 60 and probably 50 snails and routinely see empty snail shells :(
I'd get some more snails and get rid of some of those hermits. No reason to have so many.

 

[leon1972]

How do you get rid of hermits that always hide? And what about shrimp? I saw a camel shrimp munchin on something big that wasn't food. I wonder if it was a chunk of snail

 

[little_fish]

you wait until they come out and grab them. Also camel shrimp arent reef safe, so you will need to get them out before you add corals.

 

[leon1972]

But I haven't seen my hermits in weeks!!!!!!!

 

[leon1972]

Hey do. Try this to get rid of him. I am!!!!!

Evil crab vs. glass, great way to catch hitchhiker crabs - The Reef Tank