Stocking a 25 gal

[naesco]

Originally Posted by Snaz

Why so down on hermits? They are by far the best CUC in my tank. I have a handful of small red legged hermits that get every pellet, mysis or other food that hits the sand or rock. I have NEVER seen my hermits do ANY harm to a coral.

Why so down of hermits

1. They killl snails.
2. They are predators. They spend all day searching for tiny invertebrates
that breed in your tank and provide your coral with natural food.
3. They irritate some LPS causing them to remain fully retracted and recede.
4. Many reefers have observed some of them have a taste for some corals.

The idea of a reef eco system with a sandbed and live rock is to maintain a high level of critters in our tank that feed our fish and coral . Hermit crabs decimate them.

One or two are not going to do much harm but the "marketing concept" that you need a CUC (clean up crew) composed of so many snails and hermits is simply marketing and nothing else IMO,
Too many hermits cause the stated problems
Too many snails simply die of starvation and pollute the tank.

[naesco]

Originally Posted by naesco

Why so down of hermits

1. They killl snails.
2. They are predators. They spend all day searching for tiny invertebrates
that breed in your tank and provide your coral with natural food.
3. They irritate some LPS causing them to remain fully retracted and recede.
4. Many reefers have observed some of them have a taste for some corals.

The idea of a reef eco system with a sandbed and live rock is to maintain a high level of critters in our tank that feed our fish and coral . Hermit crabs decimate them.

One or two are not going to do much harm but the "marketing concept" that you need a CUC (clean up crew) composed of so many snails and hermits is simply marketing and nothing else IMO,
Too many hermits cause the stated problems
Too many snails simply die of starvation and pollute the tank.

Snaz, I subscribe to the view of Dr. Shimek who wrote on the subject of CUC.
Don't get me wrong. a Hermit Crab is fun to watch.

[sarzeff]

I do really like to watch the hermit crabs, but don't want too many in there if they are going to be troublesome. I think the shrimp are really neat too, I would have a load of them if I could.

I have a feeling I'll be getting a bigger tank in a few years lol.

[Leah]

You will not have any problems with the hermits as it is a fowler set up even if you have softies it will be fine

[sarzeff]

Here is what J&L Suggests for 15-25 gallons:
12 - Blue Legged Hermits
3 - Red Scarlet Hermit
5 - Astrea Snails
5 - Margarita Snails
5 - Cerith Snails

And this for 5-10:
5 - Blue Legged Hermits
1 - Red Scarlet Hermit
3 - Astrea Snails
2 - Margarita Snails

I would like to add a couple shrimp as well, if I went with the 5-10 gallon package and 2-3 shrimp (1 or 2 cleaners, 1 peppermint) would that be too many?

[Leah]

Yes

[Leah]

I would wait to add the shrimp however
And do you have rock in yet? And has it cycled if not you need to let it cycle

[sarzeff]

No rock in it yet, was planning on adding these guys in after it's cycled. Just getting ahead, trying to plan. Keeps me excited and reminds me why I am spending all this money lol.

The crabs and snails and shrimp are just as neat as the fish!

[FishIsGood2]

Originally Posted by naesco

Why so down of hermits

1. They killl snails.
2. They are predators. They spend all day searching for tiny invertebrates
that breed in your tank and provide your coral with natural food.
3. They irritate some LPS causing them to remain fully retracted and recede.
4. Many reefers have observed some of them have a taste for some corals.

The idea of a reef eco system with a sandbed and live rock is to maintain a high level of critters in our tank that feed our fish and coral . Hermit crabs decimate them.

One or two are not going to do much harm but the "marketing concept" that you need a CUC (clean up crew) composed of so many snails and hermits is simply marketing and nothing else IMO,
Too many hermits cause the stated problems
Too many snails simply die of starvation and pollute the tank.

I am totally agreed with naesco. I am a newbie to SW too. I started my 10g with 3 hermits and they changed to bigger shells a couple of times already. With bigger shell, they are indeed a fleet of bulldozers knocking things down.
I have to set up a 3g tank just to accomodate them now. Yes, they are fun to watch but sooner or later you have to put them away.

[sarzeff]

What about the bluelegs though which stay small?