What snails are

[olsenshouse]

hermit crab safe? I want to get some snails to clean up some algae but I don't want to buy a bunch of snails only for my hermits to steal there shells.

 

[returnofsid]

The species of snail won't really matter. If the Hermit Crab needs a shell, it'll kill snails to get it. If you get snails with smaller shells that what your crabs have, it won't be as much of a problem. You can also put empty shells in your tank, to encourage your crabs to chose those shells. However, in general, Hermit Crabs kill snails...period.

 

[olsenshouse]

Thanks returnofsid. I'll just prepare myself to buy more snails every so often. I have all different size hermits so it would be to hard to pick a size on the snails.

 

[OldFishMan]

I always keep an assortment of different sized shells in the tank. I buy snails, and hermits 50 at a time, last about a year--- then I re-order with my Grunge !

Enjoy

 

[Faciosity]

Stomotella snails! Their shells are unattractive for hermits because they are not the right size or shape, and if they get killed or eaten, they multiply fast.