Hermit killed my turbo Snail!

[Renee]

I'm beginning to wonder if I should even have crabs in my tank at all. Yesterday my hermit crab killed my turbo snail and took his shell. I know he needed a new one. the funny thin is, we were getting some shells that day. He couldn't wait I guess. Do I need crabs? I wonder will my fish be next.

[Gringoloco]

Crabs are a big help of picking up scraps and keeping hairline algae in line. Just make sure that you have enough shells in the tank for them, or else they will kill the snail to get the shell. I have 24 hermits in my 55 gal, and havent had any problems, I keep about 20 empty snail shells in the tank for them to swap out to.

[MikeS]

The type of crab makes a big difference as well. IMO the safest crab for a reef tank is the scarlet reef hermit. What kind do you have?

Mike

[Renee]

In my 9 g. I have 4 dwarf hermits. 2 emerald crabs. 1 regular sized hermit. I also have 2 cerith (sp?) snails. I already lost a cleaner shrimp earlier on.

[Condiman]

The key is to make sure you have enough extra shells for them

[icereefer]

I agree with mike, I had blue legs ,zebra, mexican red legs, electric blue hermits with shells in my tank and every one of them I caught killing my snails.and this was from 12 different tanks over the years. my scarlets were the only ones that I never caught killing snails.

[upstoday]

The crabs kill the cleaner shrimp also?

[jman785]

If you ever see a snail flipped over that can't get up, use a stick or simply flip him over, because he is destined to be killed for his shell no matter what in a typical reef tank...or atleast mine hehe.