Assorted Hermit Crab & Snail Package *FREE SHIPPING
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Assorted Crab & Snail Package *FREE SHIPPING
Mix Package may contain any of the below crabs:
Blue Leg Hermit Crab
Red Leg Hermit Crab
Astrea Snail - Astraea caelata
Bumblebee Snail - Engina mendicaria
Cerith Snail - Cerithium
Conch: Fighting - Strombus alatus
Margarita Snail - Margarites pupillus
Nassarius Snail: Pacific Lg - Nassarius spp
Zebra Turbo Snail
Nerite Snail
About Hermit Crabs
Hermit crabs are a type of decapod crustacean belonging to the superfamily Paguroidea. Though they are called crabs, they are actually more closely related to lobsters than true crabs. Hermit crabs spend most of their lives living in shells but, unlike snails, they do not grow a shell of their own. The hermit crab earned its nickname for its habit of moving from one shell to another – as the crab grows, it must move on to a larger shell. Because they live in shells, it is not often that you see the full body of a hermit crab. They have long spiny legs and claws like lobsters and other crabs with a soft, curling body. The shell provides them with protection for their vulnerable bodies.
In their native habitat, there is sometimes fierce competition over new shells. In some cases, a hermit crab will actually kill a snail or another crustacean simply for the purpose of taking over its shell. The amount of shells available in a given area depends on several factors. First, it depends on the number of other gastropods in the area as well as the number of hermit crabs fighting for the shells. Second, it depends on the number of predators in the area which feed on gastropods while leaving the shells intact. If a hermit crab has a shell that does not fit its size, it will grow slowly and will not be able to move as fast as a hermit crab with a well-fitting shell.
Hermit Crab Tank Requirements
Hermit crabs are naturally found in reef environments and thus have the same tank requirements as many reef-dwelling species. The ideal tank temperature for hermit crabs is between 72 and 78°F with a pH range between 8.1 and 8.4. The specific gravity of the tank should be between 1.021 and 1.028 with kH levels between 150 and 215 ppm. Just as aquarium fish require clean tank water and balanced chemistry levels, so do hermit crabs. If the water quality in the tank is not kept high, your hermit crabs may fail to thrive and they could become susceptible to disease. In addition to healthy conditions, hermit crabs require several inches of sand or loose substrate in which to dig as well as plenty of rock formations to hide in.
About Snails
Water Chemistry
Turbo snails require the same conditions as fish in a reef aquarium. They require a tropical temperature between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, the water must have a specific gravity of 1.020 and 1.024. The pH may range between 8.0 and 8.4. Like many saltwater invertebrates, turbo snails do not tolerate ammonia, nitrites or nitrates well. Like corals, turbo snails require supplemental calcium in their water. Turbo snails need this calcium since they extract this element from the water to make their shells.
Feeding
Most people get turbo snails to help control algae. Only put turbo snails in aquariums with lots of live rock with light algae growth for them to eat. If they exhaust their supply of algae, you will need to provide supplemental foods. You can wedge dried seaweed between pieces of live rock to provide your snails with extra food. You can purchase such seaweed at pet shops that carry saltwater fish.
Tankmates
As reef-safe invertebrates, turbo snails will not harm other invertebrates, nor will they harm fish. However, other organisms -- some reef-safe -- may harm turbo snails. Turbo snails cannot share a tank with grazing fish like tangs. These vegetarians will eat food more quickly than the snails, even with supplemental feeding. This leaves the snails to starve. You must also take care to avoid predatory fish like triggerfish, which specialize in eating hard-shelled invertebrates.
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