your opinion wanted on hermit crabs

[fungia]

some people tell me they are must have clean-up crew and others tell me they are useless. what is your opinion? i started with about 30 but now i can't find anymore, should i replace them?

 

[Anonymous]

They're not a must have nor are they useless. They are scavengers and will hastily eat a snail if it is small enough for its shell...I personally think they're beneficial and keep them around for mere entertainment. Others will disagree and say they're useless. Ive never had a problem with my hermits except for the occasional snail disappearance.. That is why I invested in large turbo snails..They dont even bother them.

 

[Anonymous]

Scarlet reef hermits are the only ones I would trust, and only them if I had plenty of empty shells.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with Scott...the scarlet ones are the most reef safe.

They are decent scavengers...I have about 8 in my 180...and I think the rule about 1 or 2 per gallon is ridiculous.

Above all else, they are cool to look at.

 

[danmhippo]

I have them before, but no longer want any of them in my tank. I can keep my sand clean enough using sandstar and cuke and sleeper goby. I can keep my rocks clean enough using urchin and lawnmowers. Without the hermits, my snails lives much much happier.

 

[danmhippo]

Besides, they need shells, empty shells. They would not hesitate to kill a snail or two if they are desparate. Otherwise, fish will do quick works out of the hermits without shell.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't keep them anymore. They didn't seem to do much and they tend to knock stuff over. Unless you like them as pets, I would skip them as I don't really see their utility.

 

[hillbilly]

I really dislike hermits. I think they do more damage than good. They knock over frags, kill snails, each other, etc... etc... etc....

 

[Anonymous]

I have seen them eat snails, knock over stuff, rip each other out of their shells, and other mischevious behaviour. I don't buy them anymore, but I still have one or two.

They are kind of cute, but I don't think they do much for the trouble they can cause in a reef tank. I might have them in a Fish only tank that had a lot of food scraps.

I agree the true scarlet hermits are the most docile, but you have to know what they look like, there are a lot of "red" hermits out there that are terrors.

 

[fungia]

hmmm. i think i will pass on getting more then. thank you guys! more opinons welcomed

 

[Anonymous]

I like 'em! Especially the red ones.

 

[Anonymous]

They provide a service like other animals we put in our tank with pro and cons. I will not put any in my new tank, but I have never had a problem with either the blue or scarlet types.

 

[mattstewart]

i've lost 2 nassarius snails from a couple of blue legs, but other that that they grab the extra food lying around and are fun. i agree with the scarlet hermit commit. i love em.

 

[cmonkey]

I love my scarlets they r fun to watch! Havent seen them bother anything either.

 

[Anonymous]

Definitely not necessary. I haven't had a hermit in a reef of mine in a few years now. I stick with a few snails and maybe a brittle star for cleanup.