How Many Should I have?

[MaineReef88]

How many snails and hermits should I have in a tank, I have never felt that I had enough, Is there a general rule, like one per gallon of water of anything like that??? I have a 55g, 90g, and 28g nano
Thanks

 

[mndfreeze]

I seem to hear different numbers based on who you get answers from and where their research initially came from.

Some say one per gallon, some say go half and work up. I like the work up idea.

 

[brascal1]

many people are holding off on hermit crabs these days. Seems they spend most of their time killing the snails for their shells. They can also be disruptive to corals and are not needed if you have snails. I agree, start with some and add more if needed.

 

[ralphie]

A lot depends upon your feeding habits. I have always started out with less than what is recommended and then add whatever I need. I actually like the hermit crabs, but I get the smaller ones.

Do you have any bristle worms? IMHO, they are the best and most important scavengers in your tank.

 

[MaineReef88]

Thanks, I like the hermits too as they are more fun to watch, I buy the small ones as well, I see them eating constantly. Yes I do have Bristle worms! glad to have them too.
Thanks again

 

[ralphie]

Also if you have hermit crabs, you should have some extra shells since they like to exchanged shells, sometimes back and forth to the same original sell.

And, they are BUTT ugly...

 

[mndfreeze]

Hermits arn't ugly! They are like comic relief clowns for the tank! I love watching mine fall off the rocks and generally act retarded.

 

[ralphie]

Hermits arn't ugly! They are like comic relief clowns for the tank! I love watching mine fall off the rocks and generally act retarded.

I totally agree and that is why I have them. I am talking about if you catch them changing shells. That way you get to set the other end! :eek2:

 

[balberth]

It REALLY depends on exactly which snails and hermits you get, your tank conditions and how big they get. A lot of people seem to buy too many and then they starve after they eat everything they can use in the tank ... then they die and pollute the water.

I've got three fairly large pacific turbo snails in my 60 gallon and they seem to be doing a fine job with the algae I happen to have. I also have for many years had a thriving population of Strombus maculatus which are little 3/8" snails that reproduce in my tank and don't seem to eat much algae at all - there must be 50 of them, but they don't do nearly as much work as the turbos.

I'm one of those who bought into the whole hermit crab thing at one point, but I don't have a single one in my reef right now, and I'm happier for it. I've not seen a lot of crustaceans that don't end up going psycho and attacking something eventually.

So are people have said above - start small and add as necessary ... and have a little patience before you decide you don't have enough.