Why are my hermit crabs lazy now?

[CMO]

So, when I first introduced my clean up crew that would scurry about during feeding time trying to find food. But now they seem perfectly content taking a nap during feeding time.

I've tried to go a bit light on the quantity of hermits so they don't starve, but now I'm thinking they might be overfed since they don't seem too concerned about food. I have a fair amount of algae but not over growth.

Perhaps the lunchtime scurry is a good indicator of needing more or less crabs? I think I need more...

 

[AlexReeferArm]

So, when I first introduced my clean up crew that would scurry about during feeding time trying to find food. But now they seem perfectly content taking a nap during feeding time.

I've tried to go a bit light on the quantity of hermits so they don't starve, but now I'm thinking they might be overfed since they don't seem too concerned about food. I have a fair amount of algae but not over growth.

Perhaps the lunchtime scurry is a good indicator of needing more or less crabs? I think I need more...

Hermits will eat anything, they might seem more content because they are readily finding detritus and food that is stuck in LR. Keep an eye on them, stick to about 1 hermit per 2 or 3 square inches in your tank.

 

[CMO]

Hermits will eat anything, they might seem more content because they are readily finding detritus and food that is stuck in LR. Keep an eye on them, stick to about 1 hermit per 2 or 3 square inches in your tank.

Sounds like I need a lot more hermits then. Definitely don't have anywhere near 2-3 per square inch. I have maybe 15-20 total hermits right now in my 165 gallon which is ~71 x 23 x 24.

Maybe my math is off but at 3 hermits per square inch of my bottom panel (71x23), that would be about 554 crabs. lol

I think I'll start by adding 10 more ;Happy, or do I need more??

 

[Antics]

Keep in mind that hermits are opportunistic eaters as well. Keep an eye on their behavior, especially their interactions with your snails.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I think you are fine, tbh. Too many hermit crabs ime quickly turns into less hermits and less snails as they they bicker over food and shells.

 

[AlexReeferArm]

Sounds like I need a lot more hermits then. Definitely don't have anywhere near 2-3 per square inch. I have maybe 15-20 total hermits right now in my 165 gallon which is ~71 x 23 x 24.

Maybe my math is off but at 3 hermits per square inch of my bottom panel (71x23), that would be about 554 crabs. lol

I think I'll start by adding 10 more ;Happy, or do I need more??

Hahaha yeah it's always been my rule of thumb for smaller tanks lol.

 

[lolgranny]

Sounds like I need a lot more hermits then. Definitely don't have anywhere near 2-3 per square inch. I have maybe 15-20 total hermits right now in my 165 gallon which is ~71 x 23 x 24.

Maybe my math is off but at 3 hermits per square inch of my bottom panel (71x23), that would be about 554 crabs. lol [emoji57]

I think I'll start by adding 10 more ;Happy, or do I need more??

I have zero hermits in my 700g system.

Hermits = no snails.
Snails > hermits

 

[Dancingmad]

Hermits are jerks. They will fight among themselves for prime real estate (or steal it from a living snail). It can be amusing to watch them get into a turf war.

I had one that used to crawl to the top of one of my leathers and fold in the sides to make some weird hermit crab taco. The leather was unappreciative, and showed me by waxing over like they do.

I like hermits in my sump where they can be ridiculous down there

 

[CMO]

Lol. Yup I have a scarlet hermit that lives in my leather and it does wax over far more often that my other smaller one without.

I didn't realize just snails was an option. So snails will eat hair algea? I've got a few big patches that nothing is eating for some reason. Was hoping more hermits would take it down but sounds like maybe snails are the way to go.

 

[lolgranny]

Lol. Yup I have a scarlet hermit that lives in my leather and it does wax over far more often that my other smaller one without.

I didn't realize just snails was an option. So snails will eat hair algea? I've got a few big patches that nothing is eating for some reason. Was hoping more hermits would take it down but sounds like maybe snails are the way to go.

Manually pick at it and they might.

 

[cracker]

I don't trust crabs of any type. Maybe a tiny "one "that wears a shell & has blue legs.

 

[Katrina71]

I eat crab sushi in front of them to keep them in line.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Turbo crabs ime are the most efficient algae eaters. They are also one the most sensitive to change. They also will sell margarita snails during the summer as turbos that dont deal well with temp spikes.

But i give turbos a slightly longer dip than trochus snails.

I prefer trochus snails because they can right themselves better, and breed readily in your aquarium keeping their population up.