That's the thing. When I got the hermits I picked up about 10 extra smallers shells... I didn't want them to move into bigger shells so they stay small
This quite an interesting conversation, I thought our goal as aquarists was to provide a suitable healthy home so the specimens we keep can be happy, healthy and grow. If we are unable to provide a suitable environment for them then we shouldn't keep them. I look at it like this, would you've liked it if your parents raised you in a shoe box? I don't think so, I would reconsider. The members here are giving you sound advice, If i were you I would take it.Well this is the question I asked the guy when buying my hermits. HOW BIG CAN THESE GUYS GET?
He said as long as you don't put in bigger shells they will only grow to the size of the shell they currently live in. Give them bigger shells and they will grow to the size of the new shell.... I wasn't born yesterday but that is why I ask these types of questions.
From what I understand if the hermit doesn't have enough food and or his shell is too small he can eat the snail and take the snails shell. If the hermit has enough to eat and has larger shells to take over the chances of him eating a snail are greatly reduced.yes I agree with what you are saying, and I will take the advice they are giving me. This is why I ask these types of questions. I was miss lead by my Local shop.
The shoe box theary is good, and I don't care if these guys get bigger. I was just told that they can live in their original shell their whole life as long as we do not provide bigger shells. And this will cause them no harm.
But my original questions was concerning the snails. Is it normal that hermit crabs gang up on snails in order to take over their larger shell.
Now it's like oh look at the snail oooh ohhh nope its a hermit!
my next purchases will be 1 or 2 shrimp gobies a maybe dwarf blue tang and pipefish
Trial and error I guess. I have 15 hermits And had 10 snails....We'll see what I decide to do...
When you guys do your water change, how do you do it?
I did a pre mix water and salt in a 5 gallon bucket. So if I take 5 gallons out and replace it with the pre mixed 5 gallons in my bucket the salinity of the water should stay within the right level