Hermts & Snails do I really need them?

[aastretch64]

I had a 46 gallon reef when I first started and I purchased 20 snails and 20 hermits. By the time I upgraded to my 90 gallon I was left with 1 snail and 15 hermits.

I do 10% weekly water changes, clean the glass every other day, nitrates are below 5, no algae grow at all, and phosphate is undetectable. With all this in mind should I spend the money on more hermits? I know they say 1 per gallon, but what is the point?

Alex

 

[cloak]

Sounds like there wasn't enough food to sustain the hermits to begin with. I'd much rather have snails. To me, a hermit is just that, a loner. Like Obi-wan.

 

[greenmonkey51]

Your hermits ate all your snails. Losing 5 hermits isn't to bad.

 

[skippy2]

Once my last hermit died at 5yrs. I didn't add anymore to my tank. Only snails and bristleworms for me.

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

I do not think they are a must. I like to watch them crawl around though Snails are enough

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

I do not think they are a must. I like to watch them crawl around though Snails are enough

 

[downhillbiker]

i think they are cheap and a great thing to have in the tank. hermits are one of those things that you just have to plan on replacing every once in a while. i personally think that emeralds are a neater critter, and they do a better job at clean up too, i am adding more to my tank, as the hermits slowly disappear. i dont kill them, i just think that over a year or so some die, their life span cant honestly be that long.

 

[Flipper62]

Hermit crabs will grow fast & will need bigger shells. When this happens, They will kill the snails for their shell. Its best to get a few empty shells & drop them in the tank. When the hermits need a new home, they will take over the empty shell. I had this happen , when I added a few empty shells it only took 2 days for the hermits to take over.