Too many snails and crabs?

[no1bubba]

Is it possible to have too many? My sand seems to be moving all the time with the action of the snails and hermit crabs. Also what to do with the empty shells all over. Do the crabs hurt the brain corals?
Bubba

 

[mapleredta]

If there are infact too many, you'll notice the snails dying off due to starvation and the hermits will probably turn on the snails and kill them.

 

[no1bubba]

Everyone looks happy, just that my sand bed is looking like a junk yard. I guess I need to get a reef rake and pull them all to one end and when the survivers move out I will remove the junk, unless it's pretty. Bubba

 

[smoothie]

Are they dying now or just empty shells? The hermits will benefit from the extra shells/homes in there

 

[gnashty]

snail shells are a contributor to phosphates so its best to get them out or get a goby - i hear sometimes they collect them and pile em up for you, mine does anyway.

Leave a couple larger shells for the hermits to move into as they grow so they dont kill your snails for a new home - they likely will still try to kill them off though - im done with hermits.

 

[mapleredta]

gnashty;545037 wrote: snail shells are a contributor to phosphates so its best to get them out or get a goby - i hear sometimes they collect them and pile em up for you.

Leave a couple larger shells for the hermits to move into as they grow so they dont kill your snails for a new home - they likely will still try to kill them off though - im done with hermits.

Really? I never heard that before. I learned my new thing for the day.

 

[gnashty]

I heard it from Skriz either on the boards or at a meeting a while back - to paraphrase "Snail shells are a large contributing factor to phosphates in a reef tank" something like that

 

[mapleredta]

gnashty;545042 wrote: I heard it from Skriz either on the boards or at a meeting a while back - to paraphrase "Snail shells are a large contributing factor to phosphates in a reef tank" something like that

I'm curious. I will do some research into that now.

 

[no1bubba]

I'll be watching for your info. Bubba

 

[gnashty]

no1bubba;545052 wrote: I'll be watching for your info. Bubba

me too - my short research (im at work right now) is turning up dry or at least too much info to sift thru atm...