Hermit crab question

[KAlt]

I have read that hermit crabs can be cause problems. I have 2 of them in my 15 gal.
I know they kill snails because I watched one take over the shell of one my snails. :cry:
I also think they may have killed 2 of my fish (1 Clown and 1 firefish). :cry:
Is this possible? What other problems can they cause? Do their benefits outweigh their drawbacks?
My wife thinks they are UGLY and wouldn't mind if I got rid of them! :wink:

 

[Steelerfan747]

I have them in my tank and love them. They tend to eat up detritus and left over food.

 

[Steelerfan747]

By the way, I have never seen them eat a fish unless he was already dead

 

[ritter6788]

By the way, I have never seen them eat a fish unless he was already dead

Agreed. I don't like hermits in my tank but not for the reasons you listed. They will take out a snail for the shell but I've never seen a hermit take out a healthy fish. I just don't like that they climb on my corals.

 

[Aqua fire/medic]

Agreed, I hate how they climb over corals! But I do like the unique hermits such as Halloween hermits.

 

[Pappy]

Hermits are a must!!!

 

[Poseidon]

Hermits are a must!!!

I totally disagree.

Hermits can be replaced by a variety of snails that will do the same job, or better, and that don't have claws!

Nassious Vibex will eat detritous.
Cerith will eat algae that is on the glass below the sand line.
Trochus and Astraea for glass.
Mexican Turbo's (Only 1 or 2) for LARGER Algae.

I just covered everything a hermit will do, without the use of claws or losses of snails to hermits for their shells.

There is no NEED for a Hermit Crab, if you want them, great. I'll pass.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I totally disagree.

Hermits can be replaced by a variety of snails that will do the same job, or better, and that don't have claws!

Nassious Vibex will eat detritous.
Cerith will eat algae that is on the glass below the sand line.
Trochus and Astraea for glass.
Mexican Turbo's (Only 1 or 2) for LARGER Algae.

I just covered everything a hermit will do, without the use of claws or losses of snails to hermits for their shells.

There is no NEED for a Hermit Crab, if you want them, great. I'll pass.

I don't think I could have stated it better. I cannot stand hermits in my reef. I have eradicated them from there.

 

[KAlt]

Thank you all very much for the input!
I just looked at my tank, and I was not surprised to see that BOTH of my hermits are now wearing the shells of my snails!
I think my wife will get her wish, I will take the hermits out of my tank, and look into getting more snails.

 

[Pkunk35]

I have read that hermit crabs can be cause problems. I have 2 of them in my 15 gal.
I know they kill snails because I watched one take over the shell of one my snails. :cry:
I also think they may have killed 2 of my fish (1 Clown and 1 firefish). :cry:
Is this possible? What other problems can they cause? Do their benefits outweigh their drawbacks?
My wife thinks they are UGLY and wouldn't mind if I got rid of them! :wink:

It depends on the specific hermit crab...some are very aggressive and get very large while others not so much.

Thus far the best hermits I have seen for a reef tank are the scarlet red hermits. They stay small, eat algae and are pretty docile.

 

[caudill187]

I love my hermits and before reading this, felt like I wouldn't have a reef without them. Maybe I should reconsider. They just do such a good job of keeping things clean....I've never seen any downside to them but I've never really seen a reason to keep the smaller snails that they will kill. In my experience, hermits are no match for larger turbos. Large turbo snails are the only snails I've ever really seen make a significant difference in a captive reef. I always say a ton of blue-legged hermits and a few zebra turbos make for a great clean-up crew....my 2 cents.