Killer hermit crabs

[tg1119]

I have been trying to tackle a cyano problem so I added 10 blue leg herit crabs. They are doing a great job on eating detrious and also my astrea snails. Since I have added them I have lost 5 snails. Is there anything that I can do to stop this? I am worried they will clean out my clean up crew.

[z28pwr]

I would not use blue leg hermit crabs in my tank, they are viciuos little fellas that wiped out 100 astrea snails from my tank. I think the only thing you can do is remove them and throw them in the sump or sell them. From what I hear the scarlet reef hermit crabs are much better behaved.

[tg1119]

oh thats sucks I guess I miss have been misinformed or misunder stood. That sucks they are constantly eating and I also watched some of the bigger ones chew threw cyano.

[cbianco]

@ tg1119

Hermit crabs are hit or miss, as far as behavior goes. Sometimes they they turn (what I would call) preditorial. Normally, hermit crabs are oppurtunist. When they see an oppurtunity for a meal, they go for it.

Hermit crabs are not the best "cure" for cyanobacteria. Personally, rarely, have I ever seen a hermit crab actually eat cyano. Cyanobacteria is a naturally occuring process and is to be expected on any tank. Don't feel bad, everyone gets cyanobacteria at one time or another.

Nutrient export is a better option to rid yourself of the dreaded cyano. Seeing I know very little about your tank setup, all I can say is that I hope you have a skimmer. They are one of the best investments you can make for your tank.

Christopher

[JeremyGlen]

The only reason your hermits are eating your snails is because they have fallen off the glass and are laying upside down. I have never seen a blue-leg hermits actually attack a snail and pull it off the glass. Occasionally they will flip them around on the sand, but if the snail is healthy it can protect itself with its cover.

I haven't seen them eat the cyano, but I have seen emerald crabs got to town on it.

[Ram_Puppy]

I don't use blue legs, I use dwarf zebras from hawaii, they seem far more docile. yes, they have taken out a couple snails in their time, but nothing like i have heard or seen in other tanks.

The worst 'reef safe' hermit I ever had was an electric orange crab (calcinus elegans) that ******* murdered every trochus and zebra snail i had in the 120 before i broke it down. (I think he might have killed some fire shrimp too)

needless to say, he's not going into the new tank.