Bad idea?

[jesterns2]

I have.a reef tank, would it be a bad idea to have a red harry hermit crab? I heard that they are reef safe sometimes.

 

[vr697getta]

i think the big problem with those crabs is that they get so big and can knock over lr.

 

[bmiller1234]

Wow, I never heard of one and googled it. In the wild they grow up to 20cm!!! You would have to buy huge shells for him to grow into or he would start dragging your rock around!!!

 

[jesterns2]

Lol, yea I have heard u will have to secure your L.R.

 

[jesterns2]

They are good sand sifters

 

[Stray32]

There are many other safer choices for sand sifters. I started with hermits, now I hate them. Always knocking things over. Get a Diamond Goby, very good sand sifter.

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

If it's sand sifters I would go with nassarius snails.

 

[jesterns2]

It's not, my wife likes. That crab is all

 

[jesterns2]

It's not, my wife likes. That crab is all

 

[Mark 75g]

Jared,
Do you have a diamond goby? How is it with moving sand all over the place. I had one in my 75 and it created a nighmare. Debris was put over all my rock and he dug big dens under rocks. Had piles everywhere. I have been thinking of getting another one, just because my sand has been getting red algea growing on it. Not sure if it would help or not.

 

[implac]

If it's the large hairy crab you typically see in retailers, I would not consider placing it in a tank where you value the diversity of the micro and macrofauna found in the rock. In my experience they seem to be omnivorous opportunists, eating most of the interesting life that is found on the rock you paid $$$/pound. Perhaps a very large tank or fish only system would be an appropriate setting for this creature?

 

[LeviChar1]

usually, when LFSs get them in shipments, they feed them to a nurse shark, trigger, or octo.

 

[Stray32]

Jared,
Do you have a diamond goby? How is it with moving sand all over the place. I had one in my 75 and it created a nighmare. Debris was put over all my rock and he dug big dens under rocks. Had piles everywhere. I have been thinking of getting another one, just because my sand has been getting red algea growing on it. Not sure if it would help or not.

I had one for 2 years until about a month ago when he died. He was fairly low key and didn't swim across the tank dropping sand on everything :lol:

He did a very good job at keeping my sand bed nice and white.

 

[Yinzer]

If anyone wants to sift sand get a seagrass wrasse, that little bastard has been kicking up sand and gunk since I got him.... Obviously I'm not too happy about it. Green algae from deep in the sand is everywhere and AAARRGGH it's driving me nuts. Much like the pirate with a steering wheel in his pants.

 

[PhysicsMunkey]

I would advise you to stay away from the red hairy hermit crab with white spots on his legs... We had one and he was downright mean! He'd go after the starfish aggressively and would try to snip off his legs. (I think he managed to get a leg off of poor Gilderoy before we took the crab back to the store). But I agree with everyone, they are really big (and fast growers) and knock over rocks and corals.

 

[Tswifty]

I wouldn't do it. Larger ones are known to take out fish, and really anything smaller than they are. I remember hearing a horror story where one snatched a guy's prized Sohal Tang as it was swimming by and started chowing down.

 

[jesterns2]

Sounds like a bad idea, I'm glad I asked. Thanks everyone!