Blue leg hermit crabs destroying my zoas

[Garrettgomez55]

I just got a nice piece of rock with 2 types of very colorful zoanthids. I woke up this morning and at least 6 hermits were on it aggravating them. I noticed two polyps detracted from the rock. I don't know if they are just eating the algae on the rock scraping up the zoas with their shells are they are trying to eat them. Not sure what to do any help would be great

 

[organism]

I usually have new rocks swarmed with clean-up crews wanting to get in on whatever's on them. If they're not eating other zoanthids in your tank then chances are they're just cleaning up.

 

[650-IS350]

I usually have new rocks swarmed with clean-up crews wanting to get in on whatever's on them.

agreed

 

[sixpackgarage]

I have not yet witnessed hermits eat zoas in my tank.. they did kill and eat a stomatella snail that somehow ended up in the sand..

 

[Garrettgomez55]

Yea they aren't eating them but they are knocking the polyps off. I had 4 really nice bright red zoanthid polyps now I'm down to 2 baby ones. I think their shells are knocking them off.

 

[sixpackgarage]

In that case banish him.

 

[organism]

Yea they aren't eating them but they are knocking the polyps off. I had 4 really nice bright red zoanthid polyps now I'm down to 2 baby ones. I think their shells are knocking them off.

Colonies that are freshly shipped can easily lose polyps due to infection, especially if you see some powdery brown stuff on the stems. Either way I guarantee you that it's impossible for a hermit crab to knock a healthy polyp off of a colony with its shell, all they're doing is some cleanup.

 

[Coralreefer1]

They are not eating your Zoas, intact they are foraging for food between the polyps. Your Zoas will close, but will again open up in due time, usually in minutes after the hermit has had his fill.

 

[accelaraptor]

My hermit crabs used to drag sand all over my zoas and aggravate them. An overrated member of a CUC in my opinion.

 

[Tweaked]

They are not eating your Zoas, intact they are foraging for food between the polyps. Your Zoas will close, but will again open up in due time, usually in minutes after the hermit has had his fill.

Yep, and they help to clean unwanted algae etc. while cleaning between. I utilize tons of snails, hermits, and a dozen emeralds for this chore.