Purpose of Hermit Crab

[Lance]

Originally Posted by jorjef

I have no tolerance for a $1.50 crab irritating a $80.00 coral

My thoughts in a nutshell. Crabs are evil. KILL THEM!

[marie]

I like hermits, it's not a real reef without them......

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by Lance

My thoughts in a nutshell.

dont you mean "in a snailshell"?

[NorthernCoral]

I personally love hermits and have had no issues with them harming any corals. They are excellent scavengers, pretty much their sole purpose. Blue legs and scarletts do not seem to climb all over corals like the zebra legs. And as for shells j&l sells bags of probably 50shells for a couple bucks.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by NorthernCoral

I personally love hermits and have had no issues with them harming any corals. They are excellent scavengers, pretty much their sole purpose. Blue legs and scarletts do not seem to climb all over corals like the zebra legs. And as for shells j&l sells bags of probably 50shells for a couple bucks.

Agree 100%.

[goldie]

so if a lot of you don't use hermits what do you have for a CUC, just snails? Do you use a mixture of species?

[jorjef]

2 Astrea snails and about 8 Cowries in 77 Gallons... Hardly a clean up crew lol I like them because they are nocturnal..I believe if your tank is stable and you don't overfeed you shouldn't even need one..

[marie]

Originally Posted by goldie

so if a lot of you don't use hermits what do you have for a CUC, just snails? Do you use a mixture of species?

You will find over time that you have more of a clean up crew then you thought. Bristle worms, spaghetti worms, brittle stars, pods......all these guys form the bulk of a good cuc and they come as part of your live rock

[burgerchow]

Originally Posted by goldie

so if a lot of you don't use hermits what do you have for a CUC, just snails? Do you use a mixture of species?

Umm, about 150 snails, 2 tuxedo urchins, 5 long spine urchins, couple emerald crabs, and a big ass chiton, ( sea hare currently on tour)

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by goldie

so if a lot of you don't use hermits what do you have for a CUC, just snails? Do you use a mixture of species?

i dont see the need for ornamental clean up crews like snails or crabs, urchins etc in a big tank. like marie said theres more than enough cuc in a healthy tank let alone the stuff we add afterwards.