Hermit Crabs

[Jiddy]

Are hermit crabs beneficial to a reef tank? I see most "cleanup" packages include them?

-Jidz

 

[clayswim]

They basically serve the same purpose as snails do, except they pick through all of the nasty stuff the snails won't touch. Of course they don't eat nearly as much algae as snails either. Overall they're great to have though. They help control algae, eat dead waste, and some do a fair amount of sifting around. Kind of funny too, you have to laugh when you startle them and they tuck back into their shells, which of course makes them lose their grip and fall off the rocks backwards.

Clayton

 

[NaH2O]

Jiddy - some folks find hermit crabs really useful in a tank, and others don't care for them at all. Either way, I feel the "clean-up packages" often sold online contain WAY too many hermit crabs for a reef tank (IMO), and they would likely kill off a number of each other and/or snails within a short amount of time. There are some types of hermits that are less aggressive than others, such as Scarlet hermits. I have a few in my tank, and they rarely even cross each others path. Also, you will want to provide empty shells for them to grow into, that way they aren't trying to steal each others. You may also find this thread helpful: Let's Talk About ~Crabs~

 

[Woodstock]

I like hermits~ Get scarlet hermits. They are most wellbehaved. They're fun to watch... once I had one to climb right up my overflow!!

 

[CarlaW]

I've had god success with the micro blue leg hermits that you get from reeftopia. But then again, like nikki says, they will eat anything, anytime, anywhere.

 

[spongebob lover]

hmm naw i like more the emerald crabs.
the hermit crabs eat the snails and emeralds just eat all the algae and other bad stuff.

 

[Jiddy]

Can someone give me an estimate for how many snails/shrimp/crabs i will need for a 220 with 300lbs of LR and a SANDBED!

 

[CarlaW]

Can someone give me an estimate for how many snails/shrimp/crabs i will need for a 220 with 300lbs of LR and a SANDBED!

I would give Reeftopia a call and see what they say. They have always been really helpful to me.
I myself like astreas, and you could probably go 1 per gallon, but that's just my .02.

 

[NaH2O]

Jiddy - for sure get a variety. Nassarius for the sand, cerith, trochus, astraea, turbo, and nerite. For hermits - I would just do some scarlets, but be sure to provide extra empty shells for them to move into. That way they won't be going after snails (although in my experience the scarlet's haven't done this - they just go after each other occasionally). I'm also not a fan of the "clean-up packages" offered on some websites - I think there is too large of an emphasis on crabs, as in too many.