red leg hermits

bderos · #1 12/21/2007, 12:03 AM

I think I have a problem. Do red legged hermit crabs nibble on coral? I have moon coral and its dying. I've caught a couple of the cleaning crew (red legged hermits) crawling around. The coral is dying slowly. I think its the red legged kids. Help.

sabazerehi · #2 12/21/2007, 12:15 AM

i have two, never had an issue

reefkeeper135 · #3 12/21/2007, 12:17 AM

Cnat say for sure but my tank is full of red legged hermits and they dont seem to bother anything that is healthy, that said....if your coral has a damaged spot that is dying off then they might pick at the dead part...just my 2 cents

demonsp · #4 12/21/2007, 12:21 AM

I would think water quality , flow , lighting , or feeding would apply.Red hermits will kill other hermits.

bderos · #5 12/21/2007, 12:24 AM

Thanks for your thoughts. My water parms are in order but i was thinking the little guys could be prohibiting the rebuild of the coarls membrane because they keep picking at stuff. Its not like they mean it or anything, theyre just cleaning not knowing they damaging the new membrane or what the cora is trying to rebuild.

otiso777 · #6 12/21/2007, 01:06 AM

Could the coral be dying for some other reason and the hermits are just eating the dead tissue?

chem-e · #7 12/21/2007, 01:25 AM

I've always kept a handful of red leg hermits. They're the only hermits I'll keep because they don't bother anything. I've had the same two trochus with the hermits for the last year and they just stroll on by next to each other. The hermits don't seem to do anything other than pick algae of the rocks.