CUC: Snail only vs Mixed

[tehpineapple]

I'm working on my second tank and it is just now finishing it's cycle.

My first tank (24g JBJ Nanocube) I used a mix of hermits (blue and red legged) and a variety of snails (astrea, cerith, turbo, trochus and spiney stars) Total was about 10 hermits and 15 snails. I provided plenty of extra shells for the hermits when they were first introduced and since then I have added more from my LFS friend. This morning I found one of my hermits sporting a fancy "new" (to him) turbo snail shell :facepalm:

I've lost probably half of my snails (all of my ceriths) to my hermits and now I'm starting to wonder if a "snail only" CUC would be a better option for my 30g.

Are there any benefits (besides not being killed by hermits) or drawbacks to having a snail only CUC?

 

[thegrun]

I've run both with and without hermit CUCs and I don't notice any big difference either way (other than the snails living longer). Hermits are great if you do have a fish die in a difficult to retrieve location as they will cannibalize a fish quickly.

 

[tehpineapple]

Would you recommend something less violent as a replacement for hermits?

 

[cloak]

I think hermit crabs are ok, in the right proportions of course.. When you've got a lot of hermit crabs and a lot of snails in a tank what do you expect? One hermit crab to every 25-30 gallons has always worked out well for me. The Scarlet hermit crab being the most reliable IME. GL.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+620&pcatid=620

 

[Tcox]

Not to hijack but quick question: is there a way to avoid extra shells from growing excessive algae? I've kept red Scarlets with good success but the extra shells make them
Not worth it because of all the algae that comes with the extra shells

 

[cloak]

I'm not really sure if I understand the question. The algae your seeing is most likely due to poor water quality, it has nothing to do with the shells themselves. If shells with algae growing on them is just unsightly, throw them in the shade.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I think hermit crabs are ok, in the right proportions of course.. When you've got a lot of hermit crabs and a lot of snails in a tank what do you expect? One hermit crab to every 25-30 gallons has always worked out well for me. The Scarlet hermit crab being the most reliable IME. GL.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+620&pcatid=620

The only hermit I'll buy from now on is the scarlet legged. I've thrown most all of my blue legs in the sump with the exception of only one or two seemingly docile one left in my DT. I'm sure they will be going south soon.

So from here on out my recommendation is scarlett leg hermits with a nice mix of snails.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I'm not really sure if I understand the question. The algae your seeing is most likely due to poor water quality, it has nothing to do with the shells themselves. If shells with algae growing on them is just unsightly, throw them in the shade.

I throw all of my extra shells behind the lr, I really don't want to see a bunch of shells cluttering up my substrate.

 

[CStrickland]

Snails up! Down with crabs! Hehe, I get kind of attached to my snails, they are like pets too. I don't want even a friendlier kind of crab in there. Plus, the way that crabs scurry around that people say is interesting? To me it seems shady and frenetic. They just aren't my bag.

Also, 90% of the cyano in my tank is on shells. Its weird. But its not a lot, stirring the sand every week means they get flipped around so it doesn't get slimy or form mats or anything. I've got one snail with a little more algae than most too....

 

[Shawn O]

I've lost probably half of my snails (all of my ceriths) to my hermits and now I'm starting to wonder if a "snail only" CUC would be a better option for my 30g.

Are there any benefits (besides not being killed by hermits) or drawbacks to having a snail only CUC?

I've lost half of my Ceriths but not a single nassarius. Apparently my hermits don't like them or they are too small to wear. If you buy snails that are too small or too large for your hermits you may be able to keep them longer.