Are you sure they kill.

[SavetheReefs]

Greg I could not agree more, blue legs are only called dwarfs because of their small size. With that being said I have never seen a blue legged hermit even close to an inch in size. Fragmaster spoke of some larges ones that I have never heard of. The bottom line is the larger the hermit crab the more harm the crab can cause to snails.

I truly hate when myths and half truths are posted on the boards. I still have customers coming in asking how they can get rid of their bristle worms.

SavetheReefs

 

[Unarce]

Fragmaster might have been thinking of the Electric Blue Hermits (Calcinus elegans). Those can get up to 2".

 

[Anonymous]

While I have no way to prove whether that snail was healthy, or half dead, I do know that he was not dead before the crab started on him. It did seem to be trying to get away. Just involuntary post mortem reflexes?
Therefore, if the crab was not hungry, he was househunting, and didn't feel like waiting for the previous homeowner to die on his own. Maybe it's not "normal" behavior, but I don't think anyone can say it's impossible.

 

[Omni2226]

Lots of hermits have blue/bluish legs. Maybe thats why they call these "dwarf" bluelegged. To help people (like me) who can be confuddled easily from making a mistake.

 

[Omni2226]

Here is a picture of the Hermit in the snail shell. The shell is 3/4 inches wide for refrence to size of the Hermit. This are what my LFS sells as "large" bluelegged dwarf hermits.

 

[Be11yDancer]

A snail's life span is not that long: only a few months (look it up)! You're lucky if they are alive when you buy them. Even if you pluck them off the glass.

I think you're a bit mistaken. Many types of marine snails can live for decades if you treat them well.

Wow what a huge discussion on a misplaced post!

As for my source that snails are not long lived, Reef Secrets by Nilsen & Fossa, Astraea tecta, little snails you throw in to eat algae are " generally short-lived, about a year in the aquarium" The blue hermit crabs are also described as not long lived, and reach a size of 3 cm. Don't know how that measurement is taken.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm just relating my experience. Snails in my tank last a whole lot longer than "a few months".