Which hermit crab is this? Is it carnivore or omnivore or herbivore?

[nanomania]

I got this hermit from lfs for macro algae control... its hairy and approx 3.5" a bit orangish... one clay is fat and other is thin.. here are the pics..

 

[nanomania]

 

[nanomania]

Please guys.... Is it Pagurus cuanensis? Will it harm my fishes or urchin or shrimps?

 

[nanomania]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljJFFlQYDDw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Betta132]

Any crabs larger than 1" are going to be dangerous to things they can attack. Large crabs are opportunistic. He may eat algae, but he'll probably attack things like coral and maybe small shrimp or fish, as well as probably your snails.
Look into tuxedo urchins for algae control.

 

[Calappidae]

Any crabs larger than 1" are going to be dangerous to things they can attack. Large crabs are opportunistic. He may eat algae, but he'll probably attack things like coral and maybe small shrimp or fish, as well as probably your snails.
Look into tuxedo urchins for algae control.

Tuxedo wear algae, not eat it. If they do eat the smaller pieces, then it'll just grow back if your algae problem is not under control.. I'll say it again, find the source of the algae first.
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On another note.. That crab is like the OP said oppertunistic. It will not bother your urchin.. I doubt it'll ever be quick enough to catch your shrimp.. but if it runs out of algae it'll go after anything slow and sleeping. Or sick..

If I had to ID.. judging the size..

Starry eye, pokeadot, or anemone hermit crab are what come to mind but don't take my word on it.. any hermit larger than 2" is a threat. Halloween, blue knuckle, and orange knuckle included.

 

[nanomania]

Oh... can I make a nice pico for it? Will feed it hikar algae wafers... I have a dymax iq3 tank spare... jus 1 liverock full of macro and thus hermit... will change water weekly 50%... no skimmer... or shud I jus go n leave it at a rocky beach closby? I know its wild caught for sure. ...

 

[nanomania]

I feed cyclopeese, formula 2 & algae wafer smtimes for my urchin

 

[Betta132]

Don't leave it at a beach. It could be carrying pathogens from your aquarium back to the ocean. Yeah, the pico should work... Large hermits can be a good pet. I don't think you should try algae wafers, though, in case it's not a herbivore. Try an omnivore's diet, or maybe a piece of shrimp now and then.

 

[Calappidae]

Squid, clam, mussel, nori, algae wafers, etc will please the monstro. Omnivore just means they're not a strict carnivour.. and not a strict herbivore. Hermits love algae.. just these ones are too big for living off of whats growing in the tank.. thus leaving the only other options.. flesh and corals.

 

[nanomania]

It was a reef turned into fowlr.... and if u see the utube video I made... its eating cheato.... tearing it n eating it.... lol

 

[nanomania]

Hey guys the hermit ate my urchin

 

[Betta132]

You sure it killed the urchin? Maybe it was already dead. Or the crab could very well have gone after it. Like I said, large crabs are opportunistic, and a sea urchin is a piece of sushi in a slow-moving shell. What kind of urchin was it? How big?

 

[nanomania]

1.5" short spine

 

[Betta132]

Yep. I'd say the crab killed it.

 

[Calappidae]

If the urchin was actually tore up in pieces then I'd say yes.. but the urchin looks like it was just his time to go.

They also slowly lose spines and removal of spines wouldn't affect it's health either. They also drop them if water quality is poor as a warning.

 

[nanomania]

It was there since 4mnths and eating well and was fat n grew a bit too.... will this hermit kill a gbta?

 

[Calappidae]

BTA it may bulldoze.