Hermit Crabs

[mixixe]

So I have a zebra hermit in a 3 gallon pico. I had it in another tank before for a while but decided the best thing to do was to keep it by itself. I constantly found it trapping snails while trying to claw out their flesh. He actually holds them hostage. The only snails he has not tried to attack are cowries. I'm thinking he can't get his claws into their tight fitting shells. I am puzzled why he dones't just attack them while their mantles are out.

Just recently I bought some new snails. I popped one into the hermit crab tank and once again I come home from work and he has trapped this poor snail between it's claws trying to get into it. So I take the poor snail out, thank goodness it's not dead. How traumatic! I will never buy another hermit crab again.

I've had good and bad crab experiences. But mostly, the only good crab experiences I've had are with boxer crabs. If anyone has any other crab stories to tell, please share because one day far from today I may want to buy another crab... something has to stop me :)

[Wiedertäufer]

I've been seeing a lot of posts like this on various forums. It seems that crabs work for some, but when they don't, they really don't. I've read of cases of emerald crabs going to town on corals. Of hermits killing snails for their shells. I guess when crabs just work and do what they are supposed to do, there's not much to talk about, but there does seem to be an awful lot of problems reported about marine crabs of all kinds.

I'm still quite a ways away from getting my clean up crew, but I'm thinking of going all snails.

[Slipstream]

Sounds to me that your crab is looking for a bigger shell. GO buy some empty shells and put them in the tank, before long your hermit will switch shells and stop terrorizing your snails.. At least, this SHOULD work, but u never know with hermits.

[putter]

Bigger shell or not it seems hermit crabs want to kill!!! I have ordered my cleanup crew and have only one crab in the lot, and thats an emerald crab, I have heard from a few that they can be kept without having snails die, I will be watching it closely:wideeyed: and the first time I see it attack anything it is outta there!

[Slipstream]

Ive never had problems with my hermits and my snail. So theres gotta be something to prevent it, cause having hermits REALLY helps with the clean up.