Hermit Crabs Catching Aquatic Snails?

[jclee]

My set-up has a built in freshwater pool with filtration and a few aquatic plants. I'd added some Malaysian Trumpet Snails (MTS) to the pond to help clean any algae that might start growing, and now I can't find a single one of them. I am guessing that the hermit crabs are able to catch and eat them under water. Has anyone had a similar experience?

[wodesorel]

It's more likely they are hiding in whatever sand or gravel substrate you have in the pools. They don't like light. Check for them in the middle of the night.

[jclee]

Good call. Thanks.

[aussieJJDude]

Like Wod said, they a burrowing snail that's somewhat nocturnal which is perfect if you have sand in your pool, it will help aerate the substrate and reduce anaerobic bacteria - plus if you have plants; it allows them to gather more nutrients as they mix the sand. They rather cool little guys but they do need a calcium source of some sort (a little chunk off a cuttlefish bone works well) as their shells will degrade without sufficient calcium.

[jclee]

I've had MTS before, I just never thought to put them into the crab tank. I'm used to seeing them in my fishtanks as they turn the sand, and I guess I didn't account for the reduced visibility in my crab set up.

I'm also a little cranky that I won't be able to easily harvest a few to seed my next project. I had hoped to put a few into the viv I'm starting up, but until the population grows, I don't think I'll be able to find any.

[wodesorel]

Ask any pet store and they should hand some over for free. I know my local Petsmart keeps a cup of ones they've picked out to give to people who ask, mainly for puffer fish.

[jclee]

I suppose that is what I'll have to do. I've gotten spoiled by having supplies like MTS on-hand for a very, very long time. (Last year, I had to re-home all of my other pets for a cross-country move; I coached a friend through shipping the crabs to me. It's been a little frustrating to start up from scratch.)

Thanks again.