will hermits slow copopod production?

[mblieske]

I've just started curing some new live rock in my tank in preparation for adding a dragonette or two. I have about 7-8 (can't remember how many I put in, and I'm sure there's at least one hiding when I count them). It just dawned me that the hermits might be thwarting my dragonette dreams by eating my burgeoning copopod population. Is this a valid concern?

[GoldCorals]

Hermits = scavenger. They like the dollar menu.....

[mharmon]

I have a few hermits in my tank and I seem to have enough copepods to keep my mandarin healthy. I suspect that the impact would be negligible.

Much of your success would depend on the size of your tank. A refugium would help also.

Mark

[Mr Cob]

Can hermits actually catch pods??? That claim doesn't make sense to me...hermits are slow and pods are small and fast. Wouldn't surprise me though since they always have some new fame.

Anyways...I actually do not keep hermits anymore and rely on snails, lawnmower blenny and wrasses to keep my rocks clean. Hermits just kept annoying me by moving frags, detaching glued frags and of course eating snails and eachother!!!

[Ping]

Yes, it is a valid concern. I believe a few Hermits in a system are ok, but the old recommendation of so many per gallon is way overkill. Too many Hermits, and they will be a heavy burden on the micro-animals on the sand bed and rock. I have about 5 in a 125g to help with cleaning the nooks and crannies. How big is your tank?

[mblieske]

I have about 7 or 8 hermits in a 60 gal.

[mharmon]

To keep one mandarin in a 60-gallon, IMHO, you'll need a refugium. Some pod-piles would help. Your tank and refugium should be well-established also.

BTW, I've heard that mandarins don't get along and will fight badly unless they are a mated pair.

[dustint21]

Hermits have no impact on pods! I have a 20L setup with corals,clams,shrimp, and 20+ hermits. My pod pop. is crazy! I do have a fuge, but my pods are out all day with the lights on and for some reason they like to chill on my overflow box. I have never seen any or my hermits bother my pods. JME.

Dustin

[Ping]

Pods no, as they are planktivors, micro-fauna in and on the rock and sand yes. Long term food chain effects will be a concern with too many crabs in a system. The micro life in a healthy sand bed enable the sand bed and rock break down detritus into inorganic or basic elemental mulm.

[nick021892]

If you want a mandarin, then you will need so many pods to keep it fed that you shouldn't have to worry about a few getting eaten here and there.