need clean up crew advice. hermits vs. snail

Do you know what type of algae? diatoms? cyano? Hermits do usually eat snails... the small blue-legged ones and scarlet red ones are the most peaceful..pretty much most other types are going to eat anything slow enough for them to catch.

 

That is strange that you have had the blue and red legged hermits kill snails. What types of snails were you using in the past? I use Turbo, Astraea, and Nassarius snails along with my red legged hermits and I have never had any problems or lost any of them.

 

I've always used scarlet reef crabs they are the most peaceful ones (and the best looking IMO). I never had issues with them picking off snails. I don't think that they are the same as red legged ones. For snails I mostly have Banded Trochus Snails.

 

I have NEVER had good luck with any hemits. They ae scavengers that will make a meal out of anyhing if they need to. Heck, a marine "stocking" expert over at ReefCentral even says that you always run a risk with hermits that they will kill snails for shells or food.

I guess if you fed them enough and had plenty of empty shells, but I had them killing off just about all of m snails regardless of size in my 75 gallon FOWLR that I had years ago.

I am snails only now and it works out great.

Oh, I've had blue leg and scarlet ones in the past.

I guess each situation is different.

 

The hermits are scavengers. I have 100 in my tank. I think they do good together as long as they are fed and you keep bigger empty shells in the tank for them to grow into. Also you may be seeing them eating snails as the snails may have died from not having enough food also. I have extra of both if you need some.

 

50 cents a piece. Snails eat algae and crabs eat everything else. So you can't say they do a better job.

 

I am getting some red algae in my tank on my live rock will crabs or snails take care of it?

 

This sounds like Cyano. You need to increase flow in the areas where you are seeing this. Best bet will be to siphon off or pull off by hand.

 

Thanks tickyty i did pull some off the other day then it showed up some where else but i am lacking a powerhead that i need to replace so that would explain why it just showed up thanks for the imput

 

New2salt...what size tank do you have? I just got a Hydor Evo 600 that I'm not going to use. I would let it go for 30 bucks if its the right size for your tank.

 

It is a 55

 

This would b perfect. Let me know.

 

I see you live in north liberty do you ever make it to the des Moines area

 

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