Carnivorous Blue legged Hermits

[Blk_Lotus]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I just returned home from a trip to the coast, having brought with me four limpits which were about the diameter of a dime, thinking to try them out as something of an experiment. I placed two on the glass walls of my tank and nestled the other pair onto a chunk of my live rock. The ones on the wall nearly immediately after taking hold started roaming and munching their merry way along. However the ones on the live rock were soon discovered and harassed by my pair of Blue legged hermit crabs. The live rock lacks smooth surfaces, and as such, the limpits were unable to implement their "batten down the hatch" defense effectively, and quickly became a snack to the hermits. Poor little things. So, it would seem I've discovered that hermits will eat anything that doesn't chase them off or hide effectively from them. Live and learn. And remember, if you're going to experiment, do it with free specimen. Your results won't be as hard to stomach.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[davejnz]

hermits are crabs and crabs will eat just about anything.They can be a nuissance in a reef tank IMO

[Whoyah]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#My blue legs like to munch on snails as well. I am moving away from hermits and more towardjust snails. Ihad about half crabs and half snails at one time, now the crabs are bigger and the snails have disspeared.Doesany one know ifscarlet red legshermit munch on snails too?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[dakar]

The bunch of red leggers did the same thing, Angel banished them to a life with the tidy bowl man. We're down to half a doxen of so blue leggers, instead snails and sea cukes have been doing a far better job.