I had the same thing with my picasso and hermit crabs. The crabs hid during the day to come out at night. I actually thought that all my crabs became snacks but to my suprise I found almost all of them running around one night. I would try to add them during the night so the Trigger doesn't see them enter the tank like a snack. I had blue legs and afew scarlets in with mine.

re triggers
 

so if this theory works, out in day - sleep at night...
then cerith snails should work then as well, cuz they are generally only active at night...therefore making it a bit safer for them cuz the trigger will be sleeping.
As well, they are smaller, so it might be hard for the trigger to shuck them.
Does the trigger break the shells? or just shuck whatever is inside out?
if they generally just crunch up the shells, then how bout golf ball sized mexican turbos? are they safer strictly becuz of their size?
thanks again for the advice.
You guys are saving lifes here and my snails thank ya...LOL
Truly do appreciate the input though.
thanks.
Neal

Neal, I think you must have a lot of tanks running, are they on seperate systems, or are they all combined?

I agree with Johnny Reefer, you need to run the tank barebottom, good flow, with a fuge and good skimming.

If I were you I would combine your tanks into a common sump, buy a monster skimmer, hook up a massive fuge (magnetic ballasts and 400w 3500k bulbs are cheap), and use lots of rock. Run the aggresive tanks barebottom with lots of flow and wastes won't accumulate. You could look at some fish that can act as cleaner crew, I don't know a lot about aggresive FOWLR tanks, but maybe some tangs and angels would survive and eat you algae for you.

Hmmm. Good question. I, for one, am not sure. When I got my Trigger tank up and running I had a small loonie sized Turbo hitchhiker in there. It lasted about one month. The shell remained intact so I don't know for sure exactly what happened.
One time when I put about six hitchhiker crabs in, one guy was slow to get to the LR. My Clown Trigger got to him and completely devoured it. The whole thing. Carapace and all. I know a crab's carapace is thinner, and probably softer, than snail shells, but still, I was surprised. After that, and my failure with two Green Brittle Stars, I do not underestimate the capabilities of my Triggers anymore. They have powerful jaws.... I think. Personally, I'm content with a whack of hitchhiker type crabs and am going to leave it at that.

Cheers:smile:,