Donna Posted January 30, 2003 Share Posted January 30, 2003 Boy ....if these aren't the coolest looking hermits I've ever seen! Here's a link: http://www.reefsource.com/Species%20Databa...horn_hermit.htm I am SOOOO tempted to drop the money on at least one of these guys....(30 bucks at most places I've seen so far) On sale at one place for 19.....Anyone EVER have one of these in a nano? I'm a little leary to purchase before I've heard of anyone else's experiences...if not ...I may bite the bullet and I can tell you all of my experiences! Would anyone else spend this much money on a crab????? Link to comment
Spudds Posted January 30, 2003 Share Posted January 30, 2003 Would be a bit clumsy in a nano, I'd think. Spudds. Link to comment
Crakeur Posted January 30, 2003 Share Posted January 30, 2003 I have kept them in tanks of all sizes and I have always ended up with staghorn shells. In the nano, there isn't enough room for them to crawl around the sand and they tend to fall off the rock, get lodged in a bad spot and die (if you don't give them an assist). In larger tanks, they can do well but are rather timid and mine got into fights and died at the hands of larger hermits. Seeing as they are so timid, they also become relatively easy prey for fish that would normally try once to snag a hermit and then move on. They are cool as hell and fun to watch but you have to always be on the lookout for them, lest they wind up wedged in a crack somewhere. Link to comment
Donna Posted January 31, 2003 Author Share Posted January 31, 2003 damn....that's disappointing...but glad you replied before I plunked down 30 bucks for one! Some day if I ever get to retire and can sit home and watch my tank all day I'll get one! Thanks again Crakeur Link to comment
Crakeur Posted January 31, 2003 Share Posted January 31, 2003 either wait until you can keep an eye on them or wait until you have a bigger tank. sadly, they are best kept when there is a lot of sand for them to crawl thru. glad I could be of some help. Link to comment
Squishie Posted February 2, 2003 Share Posted February 2, 2003 I do belive if I am not mistaken that they don't need to change shells like a regular hermit because their shell is alive adn grows with them. Link to comment
Spudds Posted February 2, 2003 Share Posted February 2, 2003 I would think so, since I can't think of anything else in nature with a shell that shape and they gotta come from somewhere. Spudds. Link to comment
Crakeur Posted February 11, 2003 Share Posted February 11, 2003 they don't need to change shells as the "shell" they reside in is actually a non-photosynthetic coral. The coral grows with the crab, usually faster. The crab ends up hauling around an odd shaped, over sized home that often causes it to tumble off of rocks and get stuck in tight places. Link to comment
Drew Posted February 23, 2003 Share Posted February 23, 2003 I tried keeping these guys on two different occasions, in my 75g reef with a 6-8" sand bed. My tank had alot of open crawling space for him, but he would only use about an 8" square area. Eventually they both died, They were still in thier shell when they died. I left the shell in the tank, hoping a blue leg hermit would call it home, but they never did. I also have a few friends who tried them about the same time I did, and they failed as well. I have the feeling they have a specialized diet that hasn't been figured out yet. Just my opinion though. Link to comment
Fishgirl Posted March 24, 2003 Share Posted March 24, 2003 I have kept these as well...Unfortunatly, these guys tend to either die or crawl out of their shells the first opportunity they have (would you want to drag around a huge shell?) and then you have a 30 buck hermit crab. They are the coolest crab ever, however they aren't really outfitted for long-term aquarium life. Link to comment
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