My MoMs DwArF tank..Questions about hermit crabs help

[3fins]

Hi i posted a post about my moms dwarf tank and good news, there COMING Tuesday or wednesday!!!!...so anyway, i got some hermit crabs and snails and i was wondering how i can put them into the tank with out introducing hydroids. I already have some parcite killer but it says " do not use with crabs or shrimp''. So...how do i do that with out killing them..plz reply quickly cus i need to no in a timely matter so they can be in there new home.

thanx for your time and quick reply
3fins

 

[panmanmatt]

There is no way to guarantee they won't introduce hydroids. You can scrub their shells with a stiff brush and that will help to lessen the possibilites.

Personally, I wouldn't trust hermit crabs with dwarfs, Hermits are opportunistic feeders, anything they can grab a hold of is food to them.

 

[fishymann]

im with matt dont put them in there. Many advise against putting hermit crabs in with regular sized seahorses. I think dwarfs would make a good snack for them.

 

[3fins]

Thanx fo ur reply...is the snails ok...or what about the small hermit crabs..there like half the size of a penny? is that ok or is it still a risk. i want to no whats best..thanx again 3fins

 

[fishymann]

any hermit crab is going to be a risk. snails shouldnt pose a problem BUT i've never kept dwarfs so you may want to check out seahorse.org and ask around and see what they have to say.

 

[pledosophy]

If you have treated the tank with pancur many herbivourous snails will not survive for many years as the medication that is so good at killing hydroids is also good at killing other inverts.

If you have not treated the tank with panacur or similiar product a snail could be fine, make sure to QT it for 6 weeks, or at the very least give it's shell a very good scrubbing with a toothbrush. The hitchhikers snails can carry can be fatal to dwarfs, or many other fish for that matter. It seems extreme, but it is really good practice in the long run. Don't want your mom to know the present snail you got her killed all her fish.

Any hermit is a risk as they often tend to grow. I got the mini hermits as well some time ago, where supposed to stay about the size of a pea, ya not IME. Different species of hermits can be hard to ID especially when small but IMO no hermit in a dwarf tank is the way to go. Turkey basters and eyedroppers work good for detritus removal.

HTH

Fishyman, buddy ol pal. Posting links to other sites while seemingly common practice is actually considered very rude by many. It prohibits this forum from growing, makes the people here seem incompetent, makes the other site look rude, as well as brings up a slew of other potential problems. Best to keep links specific IMO. I ou want to link an article great, but just a random site is not good form. Just saying. I know your fairly new to forums, and didn't think you were trying to be rude, but now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

 

[fishymann]

Sorry, just wanted to point him in a direction of more experience, didnt mean any harm.

3fins let us know what you end up doing. Chances are those small hermit crabs will grow bigger if given the chance.

 

[3fins]

ok thats a great idea, i put the snails in a jar.... lol its not as bad as it sounds =). But ive scrubbed them and im putting the crabs im my bio cube ( soon to be seahorse tank) and the snails ill put in later... OK look at my other thread ill post...my moms dwarfs came in!!!=)..i cant talk about this all on this thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!