feeding inverts in LR only tank

[itsboosting]

I just got a new biocube 29g set up with 26lbs of LR. Water parameters are good tested by my LFS.

Picked up 5 hermit crabs and 5 nassarius snails today. Since i dont have any fishes in the tank, would i have to feed these guys?

There are pods running around all over my rocks, little green specks of algae here and there, some of my LR are getting a tan/brownish coloration to it that wasn't there before. The tank has been cycled for 2, going on 3rd week now. Just wanted to confirm that the snails/hermits will be okay even without feeding them and they can properly acquire enough food to survice in the tank. Thanks!

 

[pagojoe]

I'm no reef tank expert, but I'm betting you'll have to feed them. They can live a pretty good while without eating, but... hermit crabs are scavengers, and starving hermit crabs may scavenge on something you don't want them to scavenge on. Nassarius are scavengers too, but they are normally carrion feeders. Why don't you chop up a frozen shrimp and throw it in there occasionally? You'll get the fun of watching them swarm it.

Cheers,



Don

 

[invertaman]

yah i agree just some meat or something to sustain them but the hermits can live along time brosing off the rocks.