Hermit eating zoanthids

[kjbrat]

Hi all...just introduced my first zoa frags this past Friday. They have been doing great so far. But I noticed just a few minutes ago that one of my blue legged hermits was gnawing on the polyps of one of the colonies!

Is this normal? I know these guys are opportunistic and sneaky, but thought they were reef safe. Is my best option to remove all my hermits or do they need more food of other sorts?

[mr_angryeyes]

are you actually seeing them pulling off chuncks of the polyps??? I've had blue legs forever and other than walking over corals they really don't bother to eat mine.

[FeatherDuster]

My hermits will always investigate any new piece of coral I have. Most likely they are picking off little things that you can't see. They should leave it alone in a day or two. They might visit it a couple of times a month for its "cleaning" time.

[Mr.Firemouth]

There are some blue legs sold that are not the same species as the pack. they get very bug and have vertical lines in their legs rather than bands. Check if he looks the same as the other crabs. If he is different pull him out.

He may just be cleaning it also, but some times we get 1 or 2 bad crabs with the pack.

[kjbrat]

He definitely has demolished 3 polyps; they are chewed down to nubs now. I just have to watch/catch him now, since I am not sure its been the same crab each time.

If only I didn't have to work and could watch my tank all day....

[Reefscape]

time to get rid of the hermits if they are doing this.....bad bad hermits....naughty...

Niko

[Grins]

That should be my signature.

[salty420]

i've never had a problem with any of my crabs but if you are sure it's eating your zoas it sounds like it's time to evict that hermie!

[kjbrat]

It's definitely more than one culprit, so it looks like I will be removing them all. And letting my cats play with them. A fitting end for their betrayal... :)

[Grins]

yikes don't do that. If you have a sump how about putting them there? I gave mine to another reefer who offered to take them.

[dilbert]

time to get rid of the hermits if they are doing this.....bad bad hermits....naughty...


You can't trust any crabs farther than you can throw them.
:grinyes:

But I always thought that zoanthids are all toxic, some more, some less, and only a few animals could actually eat them.

Maybe they only try to "clean up" the rock a little bit from those unsightly polyps.
:grinyes:

[Grins]

Some crabs are OK...the filter feeders are safe in my opinion. The others though? Eh, I don't trust them either.

[TheFishLady]

This sounds like the electric blue hermits, much more aggressive and gets much larger than the standard blue legs. Do a search on electric blue hermit and see if you can find a picture to compare to. The markings are different but you really have to look sometimes to tell.
Good Luck!

[kjbrat]

my sump isn't built yet, but i will figure something out. i would gladly give them away but i don't know anyone by me with a tank!

[kjbrat]

oh and they are the regular blue legs, not the electric blue ones as far as i can tell. i also have what i think are two hawaiian black leg hermits, but those haven't been spotted on the zoas.

i will try and grab a pic of my ruined frag after work today. they definitely were not cleaning it.

[Lupin]

my sump isn't built yet, but i will figure something out. i would gladly give them away but i don't know anyone by me with a tank!
Try the Classifieds section.:)

[Grins]

I'm sorry but the title of this thread makes me laugh each time I read it. I keep picturing vicious zoanthids eating a hermit crab.

[Lupin]

I'm sorry but the title of this thread makes me laugh each time I read it. I keep picturing vicious zoanthids eating a hermit crab.
Now she said it.:perv: My sides hurt, Grins.:lipssealedsmilie:

[Grins]

It would be justice if you ask me.

[kjbrat]

oh yeah i guess it is a kind of misleading thread title. funny though! :)