Red-legged Hermit Crabs

[westiemarble]

New to the marine game so always needing advice.

My Orca 450 (58L) is cycling (only 2 weeks - still lots of waiting ahead) and so now I'm trying to finalise my CUC decisions - for when the tank is ready for them and not before!

I was thinking of 4 Cerith snails, 4 Nassarius snails and 2 Turbo snails - any opinons?

A shrimp or two? Any suggestions?

And then the BAD boys or the GOOD boys (depending on what you read) - Hermit crabs!! I was thinking about 2 red-legged ones but have read so much conflicting information I don't know what to do. I would put a variety of empty, round based shells in the tank to reduce the possibity of a snail attack but do they do other damage?

I need advice from those who have had them.

Cheers

 

[CageUK]

Red legs are ok from a compatibility point of view but they tend to be a bit lazy when it comes to cleaning up. Blue knuckles are very peaceful and do a reasonable job on clean up. Blue legs have got quite an appetite but can bicker a bit (not found it with my little ones though).

Good luck with the cycle.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

The problem with a lot of crabs in general (including hermit crabs) are that they are very ppportunistic feeders. I found in my nano (had an orca 450 too ) that the hermit crabs killed every snail I put in there. However I'm also not 100% sure that the snails I got where very healthy so it may have been a case of the snails dying first and the crabs eating them after.

So far in my bigger tank the hermits have left the snails alone (only been 2 weeks though). If you provide them with enough shells and there is enough for them to eat they should be ok.

I would say its worth taking the risk anyway. They are not overly great for cleaning up (other then finishing any left over food) but they are great to watch In terms of a good CUC I would say snails are going to do a better job but are not as interesting.

 

[shibby]

good choice on snails, you could have a great cuc of different snails, but then hermit crabs are awesomely cool, it would be like happy days without the fonz if you left hermits out.

im a fan of sallylightfoots and emeralds as well, both of which ive had great success with but some others are wary of them.

 

[westiemarble]

Red-legged hermits it is then although I'll now always think of the Fonz whilst watching them!

Thanks all

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Remember to provide a variaty of different size shells for your hermits, if you don't when your crabs get to big for thier shells they might kill your snails and pinch thier shells.