Hermit Shells in Canada?

Grimreaperz · Apr 24, 2017

Okay so as of recent I started housing red scarlet hermits x 3 in my fuge and about 15 blue legs in my DT. 3 have died and about 5 of my baby trochus snails have been victim to savagery as well....i know if I get some shells to put in there, it will prevent this but just not sure where to find reef safe assorted sizes any info would be great....i know I can just order craft ones but just looking to be pointed towards some that have been used with success by others!

Thanks in advance!

CodyRVA · Apr 24, 2017

How big is your system? Very possible they're starving and going rogue out of desperation. They're opportunistic eaters. On the flip side, if some do die, you'll have empty shells...

Grimreaperz · Apr 25, 2017

CodyRVA said:
How big is your system? Very possible they're starving and going rogue out of desperation. They're opportunistic eaters. On the flip side, if some do die, you'll have empty shells...

System is 55ish in total. 36g Bowfront DT and 29g Sump with 12g fuge section. I feed heavily as I have a LNS apparently.....never cleaning up the extra food as it gets eaten by pods or now hermits.....one of my massive trochus snails died in my fuge so I put the shell in my tank and now there is a hermit in it. So I think they are just being savages for bigger shells. I have heard you can use like craft store shells but was concerns about toxins &c....so was just asking other people brands/stores they use.

Katrina71 · Apr 25, 2017

You can order nice hermit shells on eBay. Look at hermit crab shell lot. Seller is Kaywanger101. Not 100% on spelling. Her lots are pictured on a blue background. We have 8 year old land hermits and buy tons of shells. 3 extra per crab.

Katrina71 · Apr 25, 2017

The tiny ones like you need are inexpensive. Send her a message and tell her what you need. Be sure to vary sizes and types of shells. Your crabs may swap shells several times a day. Everyday.

Katrina71 · Apr 25, 2017

Katrina71 said:
You can order nice hermit shells on eBay. Look at hermit crab shell lot. Seller is Kaywanger101. Not 100% on spelling. Her lots are pictured on a blue background. We have 8 year old land hermits and buy tons of shells. 3 extra per crab.

Correct seller name is kawagner101 on eBay. Sorry, it's early!

Grimreaperz · Apr 25, 2017

Awesome thanks!

CodyRVA · Apr 25, 2017

If you're running LNS then you still likely have an imbalance of an excess of cleaners and not enough food. You can also try this: https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/empty-hermit-shells

Grimreaperz · Apr 26, 2017

Yeah I have been feeding 3 times a day and I definitely see them all grazing on a bit of hair algae I have been battling. But my tests always show 0-2 Nitrates and 0 Phosphates....so apparently my tank is super efficient.....i feed oyster eggs and phytoplankton daily along with calanus mysis and my home made fish food consisting of salmon,squid,scallops,shrimp,NLS pellets, flakes, then then I soak everything in Selcon before broadcast feeding and target feeding and not removing access.
And it appears that site doesn't ship to canada

CodyRVA · Apr 26, 2017

Grimreaperz said:
Yeah I have been feeding 3 times a day and I definitely see them all grazing on a bit of hair algae I have been battling. But my tests always show 0-2 Nitrates and 0 Phosphates....so apparently my tank is super efficient.....i feed oyster eggs and phytoplankton daily along with calanus mysis and my home made fish food consisting of salmon,squid,scallops,shrimp,NLS pellets, flakes, then then I soak everything in Selcon before broadcast feeding and target feeding and not removing access.
And it appears that site doesn't ship to canada

Ah bummer on shipping.

If you have GHA then you're not likely suffering from ULN, IMO. Your test results will often come back zero (0) because the nuisance algae is utilizing the nutrients.

Wam · Apr 28, 2017

I buy all my extra shells at my LFS I find most sell them. If your fighting GHA buy a urchin they are the best invert to help rid your tank of it.

Grimreaperz · Apr 29, 2017

Wam said:
I buy all my extra shells at my LFS I find most sell them. If your fighting GHA buy a urchin they are the best invert to help rid your tank of it.

I'm not really fighting it it's just a bit on the back glass I ended up getting a tuxedo urchin after securing my rocks but I intentionally allowed this to happen so I could get hermits etc....but it's under control.

But yeah I'm keeping an eye out for stuff my closest LFS is 1hr away and they want 2.99 per shell.. ...

Wam · Apr 29, 2017

Where at in Canada are you from? I live in northern Alberta and drive to Edmonton to shop. Most of the stores there sell extra shells for 15-25 cents each. I just bought ten for $2.50. If they are that bad of a price there I'm sure I could help out the next time I go to the city.