Busted hermit eating still alive firefish

[lmm1967]

Firefish was still very much alive - fighting like hell but couldn't get away from the hermit. :mad2:

Hermit was chewing away at him - had hold of him by the tail. By the time I got to him it was way too late for the firefish - he was still alive and trying to swim but most of his tail was gone and he had no chance. Couldn't keep himself upright.

I've heard the tales of hermits taking healthy live fish - and now have witnessed it first hand.

Hermits are now going to have to go live in the refugium and fend for themselves amongst the several LARGE "Gorilla" crabs and the sneaky Clingfish

 

[AlSimmons]

I had the same thing happen to a Hippo tang one time only it was a Red Eye crab that was responsible for it. It must of hitchhiked in on some live rock. Once I found the two it was not a pretty sight. About 1/3 of the fish had been consumed but it was still alive.

 

[farfromsea]

Why did you banish the clingfish?


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[Dealseer]

What kind of hermit was it?

 

[lmm1967]

Why did you banish the clingfish?


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he came in on TBS liverock - and is about 4" long. The way he eats - there is no way I am putting him in my main tank. He inhales anything I put within 5 inches of his mouth.

He has always lived in the refugium tank.

I'm actually about to convert from a 60 display / 20 refugium to a 120 display / 60 refugium - primarily to increase the size of his home.

 

[farfromsea]

Oh I was interested in getting a clingfish (if I could ever find one!) but maybe it is a bad choice if they get giant ...


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[lmm1967]

What kind of hermit was it?

either a red leg or blue leg - they are the only type we have ever put in the tank. I'll grab him and confirm next time I see him roaming around - he's the only hermit in the tank he is currently in so I'll be able to confirm fairly easily.

 

[scuzy]

i really doubt a hermit can take down a healthy fish. most likely it's already on it's way out.

 

[Brieninsac]

I could have sworn the same thing happened to a Mandarin before but everyone on here said he must have been dead first. Sounds like it can happen.

 

[lmm1967]

i really doubt a hermit can take down a healthy fish. most likely it's already on it's way out.

The firefish was amazingly strong when I rescued him - had his tail not been so destroyed he would have been fine. He was trying like hell to swim around - he just didn't have enough tail left to be viable.

This guy spent a majority of his time hiding out near the bottom under a rock - he had a few favorite spots.

He was healthy - I think the crab just managed to nab him from his hiding spot.

 

[lmm1967]

The culprit.


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[lmm1967]

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[Dealseer]

Thank you for the pictures, lmm1967.

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

Yeah that hermit did not and just isn't capable of catching a perfectly heathy filefish (or any healthy fish) and the firefish was almost certainly ill in some way for the crab to be able to get a claw on it. Hermit crab physiology is deigned for scavenging, not hunting so it is not reasonable to conclude that this is the answer.

 

[kowen]

I had an ailing tomato clown a while back. There was an emerald crab that kept trying to nab him, but it took several days for the clown's health to slip far enough. Can't imagine a hermit getting hold of a healthy firefish.

 

[lmm1967]

A healthy firefish hiding in his cave at the bottom of the tank. Pretty easy for a hermit to snag actually. This fish had a habit of hiding out under a couple rocks right down on the sand. He would actually rest down on top of our starfish when the starfish would be in his favorite spot.

Guess I'll need video next time.


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[Bongo Shrimp]

A healthy firefish hiding in his cave at the bottom of the tank. Pretty easy for a hermit to snag actually. This fish had a habit of hiding out under a couple rocks right down on the sand. He would actually rest down on top of our starfish when the starfish would be in his favorite spot.

Guess I'll need video next time.


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No, it still wouldn't be easy to catch as it wouldn't just sit there and let the crab grab it without a fight. Unless it was already compromised by some weakness. It just doesn't happen to a healthy fish. Even if the crab managed to get a fin in its claws, a healthy fish would bolt out and just tear the fin to get away. Hermit crabs are not predators that systematically take down healthy fish. As I always tell people, please get this kind of thing on video because until then, there's no actual proof it has ever happened.

 

[Rakie]

I feel where you're coming from, but a hermit being able to take down a firefish is really unlikely. Nearly anything *can* happen, so maybe it did.. But if I was a gamblin' man I along with most here would say in some way shape or form, that fish was probably ill or compromised to some extent.

It's a damn shame though. I will never trust a crab of any kind at this point, it's never worth it.

 

[Zatoichi]

I was thinking the same thing I bet that fish was struggling and the hermit crab decided to help himself to a hot meal condolences to your Firefish

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[Rakie]

condolences to your Firefish

My little firefish has so much more personality than I'd have ever expected.