HCA: Hermit Crab Association

hey guys, I just put a bunch of Crickets in the tank....I'm dead sure they'll breed....Is it good for the crabs?

You guys are the best help ever! :sarcasm:

I have no idea if they would hurt the crabs. Can i ask why you did that though?

It was my understanding that crickets were really messy (like poop everywhere) i would think it would make your tat really dirty.

They will definitely breed under the circumstances of warmth and humidity... and they may indeed overpopulate the tank.

Somebody had crickets in their tank and desperately tried to remove them. I recommend taking them out. They make good snacks dead (for hermits, at least ), but not when they're alive.

2 things.

1. Good Protein....
2. I think they clean up the tank....And plus they breed. So a permanent source of Protein for the crabs....it's funny, one crab already went into the salt water pool....Dead. But eh....I can scoop it out.

If you're aiming for a clean-up crew, go for rollie pollies instead. Crickets will be more into the fresh food supply, and from what I've read, you supply fresh food every night.

(making it even more of a jiminy nightmare).

Well, Crickets are cannibals. I'm watching a cricket eat a dead one....So that means none will just sit there and rot. And of course there's those Pools I have so They'll be gone....I'm sure some of the crickets will avoid the pools....So that will drain the population.


Oh and I already have Rollie Pollies in the tank...So maybe the crickets will control the Rollie Pollie Population?

What size tank do you have?

Why do you need crickets to clean up your tank?

Hermits wont eat the crickets unless they are dead.

A 20G

Crickets only live for around 7-8 weeks I think so they die fast. I think I just saw a Cricket lay eggs so.....yay?

Sorry another question...

Why do you need rollies and crickets as clean up in a 20gal?

I understand wanting to feed crickets as protine, but would rather kill live healthy ones and feed them in the dish then let them die of who knows what and let the crabs chose for themselves.

What kind of substrate do you have?

Kupcake wrote:Sorry another question...

Why do you need rollies and crickets as clean up in a 20gal?

I understand wanting to feed crickets as protine, but would rather kill live healthy ones and feed them in the dish then let them die of who knows what and let the crabs chose for themselves.

What kind of substrate do you have?

Well, Crabs are messy creatures, they take dumps everywhere, mold grows on wood etc...The bugs help that....

If in...say a month I see bad results from the crickets I take them out.

Oh, and I have eco-earth and playsand.

As far as i know, EE will naturally recycle the poop from your crabs. If you want to make your wood not mold then soak it in salt water, or better yet, dont use it

Just my 2c. You know your tank, but i think they will probably be more hassle than help.

GL and keep us updated on how it works out!

The crabs will not hunt the crickets, they will only eat dead ones, if they can get them. But the crickets will be everywhere, pooping all over the tank, hiding in the smallest cracks and soon there will be hundreds, if your crickets are anything like mine. There's a good chance that the small ones will escape from the tank by climbing the silicone in the corners. I really don't recommend putting crickets in the tank, they cause more troubles than they are worth, not to mention the noise 50 adult crickets males make.

Btw, I don't think it's asked too much to wait more than 22 minutes before bumping the thread again with a sarcastic remark. People here are very helpful, but some patience is useful.

FYI, It's my understanding that crickets can carry nematodes and mites. I understand liking watching them but it would probably be better to keep them in a separate kritter keeper and feed as needed. That's what my son does with the ones he feeds his frogs.