blue and red leg hermit crabs

Maximiller · 04-25-2006, 11:04 PM

i have a question... Duh..

do i have to buy new shell for blue and red leg hermit crabs or no?
i think i heard something like that u had to get some shell but not sure if it just me making things up

...

thanks

dobejazz · 04-25-2006, 11:16 PM

You should have extra shells in the tank for them they like to move in and out

funi42 · 04-25-2006, 11:21 PM

yup get a few extras or when they are ready to move they will go snail hunting and steal their shell

-funi

Maximiller · 04-25-2006, 11:39 PM

ok thanks a lot guys
... good thing i am not going crazy making things up...

Wiskey · 04-25-2006, 11:43 PM

I agree with funi42, they like to move around, it also makes them less likely to eat your snailes and take their shells, although they still seem to do it to some extent.

Whiskey

Sprayin70 · 04-26-2006, 07:56 AM

My blue legs ate my turbo the other day. It made me so angry!!!

Loverotties · 04-26-2006, 08:00 AM

as they get bigger they need a bigger shell!

Tim224DT · 04-26-2006, 08:02 AM

Few extra shells in your tank for them to move into. Ask your LFS i know mine has tons of extra shells in their tanks. They gave me about 10 of them. Well 2 of the extra 10 had hermits in them!!

Tim

abigtroutt · 04-26-2006, 08:09 AM

I also have a question about the hermits and turbo snails.....How many should you have in your tank. My tank is a 54 gal reef... and the local fish store told me 100? seems like a lot....Is that true.

Hardhead Cat · 04-26-2006, 08:17 AM

They love to shop for new shells. You can buy empty ones for a few cents each. It's funny to see them turning over empty shells, looking for a suitable home. As their bodies expand they need new houses. I think 100 crabs/snails is a bit much for a 54-gallon. I have about a dozen in my 135-gallon and they seem to do a bang-up job....

HHC

Sprayin70 · 04-26-2006, 08:25 AM

WOW. I have 10 blue legs and 1 sally light foot in my Mini 7. They all seem to be happy. I think I will pick up some shells today. Thanks.

skeety · 04-26-2006, 09:04 AM

you wanna add new shells that are slightly bigger than the ones they are in, from time to time. This keeps them from killing each OTHER and from killing other shelled critters (snails).

as for quanitity...I've been confused on this issue since day one, and still am.

I have a 72 gallon SPS with MAYBE 20 hermits. I also only have 7 snails (6 astrea, 1 turbo). And have had this quanitity for over a year with no algae outbreaks. And they all seem to do well. May have lost a hermit or two...don't know. But all my snails are still alive...and growing. As are the majority of my hermits.

But I know some people that dump like 100 hermits in their 50 gallon. No idea how many are left in a years time...

but I wish I knew what the quantity vs tank size answer was...

ILLBKING · 04-26-2006, 10:51 AM

I have 1 blue leg and he has killed 6 snails in 3 week, but never takes the shell.

His days are numbered in my tank!

UseSkaForEvil · 04-26-2006, 10:56 AM

what i was told and what makes sense to me is if your going to get some, get a low number and if they aren't cutting it then just to add more. ive never had the old ones harass the new ones more they all just kinda try to kill each other. which is all part fo the fun right?

Sprayin70 · 04-26-2006, 10:02 PM

I think I may have to many. If I build a fuge or a sump I will put some in it. Until then they can just get along.