Are hermits worth it?

D

Darby

Over the last few months, I've heard many people say that hermit crabs really aren't worth having in your tank, that they cause more havoc than they cure, etc. I can certainly attest that I have a few jerks. Just lastnight a large green decided to snip the thin bond between two groups of zoas, for no apparent reason other than to just do it. I also have a mexican redleg that like to sit at teh very top of a colony of small star polyps, and another that has to climb over a small group of purple zoas every 2 hours or so (i'm starting to think he's OCD). They've killed several snails, and not even for their shells (you'd think this would be because ther was no food, but there's plenty in there). I hate to say it, but I'm starting to side with the "they're no good" crowd, but fear what may occur in my tank if I were to get rid of them...
 
try scarlett red hermits. They will eat snails for shells (unless you have shells laying around). But they stay small and don't touch coral. Seem to clean crevices of rock & sand, so I like em.
 
I like having a few hermits in my tank it gives you a variety of life in the tank. They never really cause problems and seemed to be hard at work most of the time. I only have a few of each: scarlets (red), small blue hermits, and left handed hermits (purple). :D
 
I'm crab free and have been for a few years. it's really a matter of preference. i don't like them munching my snails and almost all will at some point or another.
 
I'm a firm believer that scarlets are the most docile hermit, which is not to say they are not oportunistic and wil indulge in escargot if it is presented to them. They are the only hermit in our tanks, and really help in keeping algea in check. The one negative, they cost a heck of alot more than most all of the hermits. If you try them, be patient and wait for a group by with the right vendor. You can on occasion find them at $1.00 or less.
 
Scarlets are nice. Pricey some places but so pretty. Keep some spare houses for them around if you decide to get some. I dont have any small snails so that hasnt been a problem for me. My golfball+ size turbos, zebra's, etc would put a whoopin on a hermit :D Large hermits are mean though. I had one that tormented the snails to no end. Small hermits are so interesting to watch though. I cant imagine my reef without crabs.

Angela
 
@kwl1763 wrote:
I'm crab free and have been for a few years. it's really a matter of preference. i don't like them munching my snails and almost all will at some point or another. said:
That sounds like something you would hear at a AA meeting... lol...

I agree with orchidsnfish & tradosz, the scarlets seem to get into trouble less... my blues have managed to eat all of my nassarius (and there are tons of other shells on the sand to choose from). I am currently setting up a 90, I will probably only move the scarlets over, and the blues can stay in my 40 (it will be a QT tank). But even then I will only be keeping a small number of them.
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Mark me down as fed up with the whole lot of them.... I'm getting tired of every time I bump an astrea while cleaning the glass, I have to hurry and get it flipped right side up before the hermits can get to it...
 
LOL...nice manuel!

I have cut way back on my blue-legs. I have less than a dozen in my tank and 2 or 3 are scarlets. I had the same problem. I'll probably always have a few though in my 150g.
 
I adhere to a strick no crab policy in my display as I have plenty of other things that do the job just as good without the dead loss. I do however have them in the paly tank, in my 29 and in my sump as they are cheap and easy to maintain eaters of crud. They don't seem to be making a dent in any of the algae in the 45 though.
 
Get rid of them. I got rid of almost all mine except two scarlets. I was tired of them killing each other and snails. They really were not eating that much algae either. Snails do well. I am going to get two fighting conchs as well to clean my sand. I have heard nothing but praises about them.
 
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