To add hermits or not?... that is the question....

[atlweb]

I am going to be getting a small tang to pick on algae, and a two spotted goby to help clean the sand bed up. In my past tanks, I have always hated hermits knocking over my corals, but they did do a great job of eating left over food / waste.

What do you guys think? Will my livestock and heavy mechanical / natural filtration be enough.... or are hermits knocking stuff over worth their benefit to the mini ecosystem?

 

[jdabs]

i have them but curse them all if the time for knocking stuff over! Some i just ban to the sump if they make me mad. I have thought many times about just yanking them out and getting rid of them. I would be interested also in seeing what others think.

 

[smallblock]

If you keep your params super steady they aren't really needed IMO, I think a shrimp does just about the same thing IMO. They do get agravating for sure.

 

[bruce 1]

I have over 150 in my tank, and love them.

 

[peachyreef]

Yeah I prefer them over any kind of snail. (I HATE turbos)

 

[dawgface]

peachyreef;695094 wrote: Yeah I prefer them over any kind of snail. (I HATE turbos)

+1

I have no problem with hermits knocking over things. Turbo snails....argh!

 

[hammcd]

the two most aggravating things in my tank are hermits and astreas snails...hermits because the knock stuff over and flip over my astreas snails

and astreas snails cause they are so stupid they cant flip themselves back over...

ive been buying the teeny tiny blue legged hermits that rit has and they are far less destructive and leave the astreas alone..this may be my new course

 

[jef4y]

I have probably 20 hermits in my 60. Some as old as 3 or so years. I kinda like them. They do get bored & eat my snails, so I have to keep resupplying snails, but whatever. I'm cool with it.

 

[stacy22]

I like having hermits in my tank. They provide diversity which, in my opinion, is a good thing. I steer clear of the more aggressive crabs. I do have a teddy bear crab that will reside in my cump. Even a$$hole crabs deserve to live.

 

[hammcd]

what crabs do u consider aggressive...im just curious because ive been thinking of adding some crab diversity

 

[viperrob]

I have 4 crabs in my 125 aquarium now. For the most part, they don't disturb anything in the tank. I like them sooooooo much better than snails. Thinking about adding more.