Hermit crabs and pods: can they be friends?

[AdamHorton]

I'll be moving soon, which is a great opportunity for me to get all of my hermit crabs out of my display tank. Their murderous reign of tyranny over innocent snails shall come to an end.

I was thinking about putting them in my refugium. I think they will do well there except for one reservation. I have a nice population of pods down there that I'd like to keep going. Even though my mandarin is in the display tank, I think it's a good idea to try and support the population that's in the refugium as well.

Will red algae hermit crabs eliminate the population of pods that I have down there? What about my ball of chaeto? (I'd like to think they wouldn't touch that) If so, I'll probably just take them to a fish store and give them away. If not, I think I'll keep them down there.

 

[melosu58]

You can keep them there but you`ll need probably to feed them every once in a while. They might not get that much food down there.

 

[cmor1701d]

They'll find food that comes down from the display, but depending on how many you have they may predate each other more than they would in the DT. I did the same with my hermits and some survived and my pod population kept my mandarin fat and happy. Hermits only live a year or two, so mine are long gone now.

 

[AdamHorton]

Feeding them is no problem, I can do that. It's good to know that I can keep them.

It's also good to know that I can start keeping snails in my display tank again. Those crabs aren't doing jack for keeping my sand bed stirred up, and I don't have any more problems with algae on my rocks.

Thanks for the help... that was fast.

 

[austinsdad]

I'm not sure or have any scientific research at hand, but I believe crabs can't even catch a pod. I think they will not present any problems down there.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

... Hermits only live a year or two, ...

Someone needs to tell the lone hermit in my tank that. He's been in there for 4+ years.

I'm with austinsdad... I don't think a hermit can even capture a pod.

 

[Soundtrigger]

I'm not sure or have any scientific research at hand, but I believe crabs can't even catch a pod. I think they will not present any problems down there.

I agree

 

[cmor1701d]

Kurt, you should have a talk with that hermit, but you may need to SHOUT. Hearing loss is common with advanced age

I can't find my source for the lifespan statement, probably one of the online stores, so I stand corrected. I know that land hermits have a very long lifespan.

 

[AdamHorton]

Well, I did spy a hermit crab eating a pod down in the refugium, but it was more than likely already dead before the crab got to it -- I'd be very surprised if every single pod lived through that move.