Hermit Crabs Vs Snails

[T-Bone]

I have been having a slight problem with my hermit crabs eating my snails. I don't know for sure if they are killing them or if my snails are dying and then the crabs eat them.

All my stats seem to be fine after testing: pH, sg, ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, etc...
Temp is 89 degrees
Filters in working order
About 25 lbs of live rock (slowly getting more)
75 gallon tank

I only have 6 crabs and have purchased a total of I think 23 snails. It's hard to say for sure, but I think I only have a little more than a dozen snails now and I have seen the crabs eating a few.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[sianeds]

I think your crabs are murdering your snails for their shells. Go to your LFS and buy some spare shells, bigger than the ones the crabs already have and dot them around your tank

 

[ostrow]

89deg??? Why???

Virtually all hermit crabs will eat snails. If you got astraea snails, they can't right themselves when they fall, and the hermits pounce.

What hermits? Bluelegs are sadists. Zebras and right-handeds are worse. Redlegs are worst of all (but not scarlets, they are ok).

Rule of thumb ... don't mix.

 

[afmo]

i saw that too, is 89 degrees a typo?? Sounds like your getting ready for a seafood buffet instead of an aquarium!

i have personally seen this happen, having both astraeas and blue/zebra/scarlets in the same tank, the crabs leave the snails alone, until one of the astraeas fall on their backs, then the crabs are merciless.

 

[Ehudd]

hmmm well he said he is just getting started.. could be a number of things.
I have never had a prob with my hermits and snails. ever.
Whenever i see a hermit cleaning out a snail shell its most prob my mantis that i cannot get out. He seems to go the snails then the crabs. I dont know i am just putting some suggestions to what could be happening here. But i have not had a prob with snails and crabs