Crustacean camper: Have you kept hermit crabs in your reef?

[Peace River]

Crustacean camper: Have you kept hermit crabs in your reef?

Hermit crabs that are kept in the marine aquarium come in various sizes and are kept for various reasons. These fascinating shell dwellers can add another aspect to your tank. Some hermit crabs are kept primarily for their looks and personality whereas others are kept as part of the clean-up-crew (CUC). Have you kept hermit crabs in your aquarium? Why did you select your hermit crabs? Do you have any stories or tips to share?

Photo by @CMMorgan

 

[blaxsun]

Yes, I've got dozens in my tank. Some are there for scavenging - others because I just likes their personality (I have a good dozen miscellaneous/unknown hermit crabs).

The algae eating variety are particularly good climbers (often scaling cords in the tank).

 

[kevgib67]

Yes, I have about a dozen an even mix of dwarf red and blue legged hermits. Great little scavengers and small enough to get in crevices and aren’t bulldozers.

 

[OctoReef12]

My favorite is the Blue Knuckle hermit, but I have many others, including blue-legged, scarlet, etc. They are always up to something either cleaning or harassing each other.

 

[Homey D. Clownfish]

I love hermits. I have close to a dozen in my 50 gallon. They’re always busy. My favorite is when they take on a different shell.

 

[Tacticool-Reefer]

Personally I wouldn’t have a system without them but they can be advantageous little buggers, recently they attacked one of my Mexican turbo snails, dislodged his foot, and started to consume it.

 

[kazeespada]

I love hermit crabs. They are so silly. Also, my tanks have always been quite small, so dwarf hermits make great itty bitty centerpieces.

I currently have a dwarf zebra hermit(although she's quite large now) and a Halloween hermit.

My goal one day is to have an adult Giant Marine Hermit(Petrochirus Diogenes).

 

[Pistondog]

Scarletts and blue legged. Always working.

 

[Makara23]

The ONLY reason I have hermits is because they're comedians. If they weren't entertaining, I would get rid of them pretty quick.

They're so useless otherwise: Does nothing for hair algae. My cleaner shrimps are much better scavengers. Also murders my snails for no reason (I witnessed one ripping apart a perfectly healthy trochus snail and didn't even want the shell afterwards).

 

[kazeespada]

The ONLY reason I have hermits is because they're comedians. If they weren't entertaining, I would get rid of them pretty quick.

They're so useless otherwise: Does nothing for hair algae. My cleaner shrimps are much better scavengers. Also murders my snails for no reason (I witnessed one ripping apart a perfectly healthy trochus snail and didn't even want the shell afterwards).

Are you sure it's hair algae and not bryopsis? My hermits go crazy for hair algae. I have even seen my dwarf zebra hermit climb the silicon like an ice climber to reach some. Attacking snails is usually a sign of not enough meaty foods or not enough shells. Going off recommendations from Land Hermit keepers, it's about 5 shells of approximately the right size per hermit. I have also seen mine attack snails during feeding time, although they usually give up once the snail puts up a fight.

 

[jerrberryjerr]

I have about a dozen or so in my 72 gal bow front but they are completely nocturnal. Same goes for my mithrax crabs, shrimp, urchins, snails and brittle stars. Kind of frustrating as they are a big reason for my love of the hobby. All I can assume is one of the fish take a swipe at them during the day.

 

[Azael]

Yes, I have red legs hermits and they are ok. I think I will also buy a blue leg one in the future.

 

[SubzeroZoaNut]

I have in singles.. a dwarf blue leg, a dwarf red tip, a crimson leg, and a Halloween hermit. The rest of my cuc is snail based. I feed the tank well, and have lots of extra shells in the tank. They barely bother each other, let alone the snails. 40 gallon breeder. At least 10 cerith snails, 3 nassarius snails, 5 trochus snails, a couple astreas, and one bulldozing Mexican turbo snail.

 

[UtahReefer]

Yes in the past but no more. Reason being is that I have found snails can do the majority of the work. The crabs will go after the snails. I have several Conch Snails, they do a great job on the sand bed. Due to their large opening if their were crabs the Conch's would be at risk. No more crabs for this reefer!