Questions on Snails and Hermit crabs

[jeffaquarius]

I have a 60 gal reef tank. I added 10 turbo snails and 10 hermits crabs. They did a very good job getting rid of all the nuisance algae. Question is, now that there is not much algae for them to feed shall I reduce their numbers or just give them algae wafers? My 2nd question is, is it possible that hermit crabs can be carnivorous? I noticed one of them on my flower pot coral and it left an empty spot after removing it which never recovered.

 

[mr_X]

Yes, hermit crabs are omnivores. They are not to be trusted. That said, I've never seen them eat coral, but I have seen them kill and eat many healthy snails. they would change into the snails shell, and do it over and over and over. I saw one change shells 3 times in one day.

If you don't have enough food in the tank for your inverts, they will starve, bottom line.

 

[jeffaquarius]

Hmmmm...I better keep watch on this snails. Thanks for the tip mr x

 

[jeffaquarius]

Hmmmm...I better keep watch on this snails. Thanks for the tip mr x

I mean hermit crabs....

 

[PurplePolyp]

The hermits will kill your snails if they are hungry or if they need a bigger shell. I feed mine sinking pellets. You'll also want to add a few different sized empty shells to the tank to give them upgrade living options.

 

[mr_X]

They will kill your snails out of sheer instinct. There is no way that hermit crab I spoke of needed to eat 3 large snails in one day.