Halloween hermit VS Conch

[jassyso]

Hi there, so I recently just inherited two new cleanup crew members from two separate friends who are both getting out of the Hobbie. A Halloween hermit crab (2inches) and a conch (3.5inches), I found an old shell bigger than both of them & threw it in the tank…. I’ve heard the hermit can kill conch & obviously I don’t want that. Thoughts ????

 

[shakacuz]

i would throw in 1 more shell just to be safe. you should be fine, but always monitor the hermit for any change in behavior..

 

[Joe's Coral Reef]

Yep add as many cone shells as you can. My halloween crab killed of my conchs, wore his shell for less then a week and went onto another shell. My Halloween crab has turned into a beast

 

[WWC Verified Sponsor]

Yes make sure you have a good amount of available shells so he does not bother the conch

 

[rmorris_14]

Not to be a Debbie downer, but I have a hermit that picked off 9 of his fellow hermits one by one. He had a shell graveyard full of choices
and was always well fed. Not saying your conch is doomed but Hermits will be hermits. Its probably 50/50 shot. Wouldn’t hurt to try the extra shells though. GL! Conchs are really cool.

 

[kingjames_dc5]

Just wondering what the current status of the situation? I’ve always had conchs and love these guys they are a great part of the cuc. But the Halloween hermit has always caught my eye at the lfs just wondering if your having the same results many others have had.

 

[Dkmoo]

I have both with no problem for a couple of years now. It was already pretty big when I got it and haven't switched shells since. Probably already reached its maximum size? I do also have a few other big cone shells in tank just incase.

 

[jassyso]

Just wondering what the current status of the situation? I’ve always had conchs and love these guys they are a great part of the cuc. But the Halloween hermit has always caught my eye at the lfs just wondering if your having the same results many others have had.

So far we are a 6days in & they barley interact with one another, it could be my Aqua scape set up however I’ve also noticed the crab stays on the rocks mostly and my conch stays in the sand bed. I did add two additional similar size shells for them.