Blue vs. red hermit crabs

[lakwriter]

Are blue-legged hermit crabs better to have than red-legged ones? Or vice-versa? Why?

I ask because everywhere I look the blue ones are cheaper than the red ones, but their descriptions are very similar.

 

[Andrew]

My experience with blue hermits was horrible. I had a dozen or so in my reef and they ate a boat load of zoas before I could get all of them out.

 

[Salamander]

IME there are several different blue and red crabs. The blues I've had are generally more aggressive and more carnivoris and the scarlett crabs do a much better job at eating algae.

 

[clayspst]

none they are all evil

 

[lakwriter]

I have blue-legged ones now and they do okay, but I want to beef up my clean up crew and thought I'd see if it made a difference either way.

 

[jer77]

The blue hermits I've had are very small and don't do a good job at eating algae. The mexican red hermits tend to bother more snails and hermits than the blue ones. The scarlet reef red crabs are the best IMO. They are usually larger than both and eat more algae. Plus they don't seem to pick at snails and other hermits.