Hermit crabs eating birdsnest?

[rwpollack]

Hey all,
I've had a birdnest coral for about 3 months that has been doing great and went from some-sized to the size of a quarter. All of a sudden for 2 days now I noticed 2-3 red leg hermits (or maybe hey are scarlet reef) on top of it. I thought that was strange. This morning I walked over to the tank and the hermits have left but my birdsnest is stark white with no polyps.
Nothing has really changed in my tank that would make me believe the birdsnest was dying and the crabs were simply eating a dying coral. I have anemones and other more sensitive corals that are all doing great.

Has anyone ever heard of red leg hermits eating birdnest coral?

 

[Anemone]

I think your coral went, and your hermits stopped by for a meal. Red leg (and especially scarlet reef) hermits are typically very timid/non-destructive.

Kevin

 

[Uncle99]

I think your coral went, and your hermits stopped by for a meal. Red leg (and especially scarlet reef) hermits are typically very timid/non-destructive.

Kevin

Agreed, but since I banned all crabs and hitchhikers 25 months ago, I have yet to lose a fish, a coral, or even a snail.

Hum?

 

[Tripod1404]

i think your coral went, and your hermits stopped by for a meal. Red leg (and especially scarlet reef) hermits are typically very timid/non-destructive.

Kevin

+1

 

[rwpollack]

Ok thanks for the reply all.
What would make the birds nest crap out so suddenly? it doubled in size since I got it. Plus I thought they were fairly tough. I have two BTA's, leather's, Zoas, Monti Caps. Easy stuff but everything else seems to be doing fine. Only the green birdsnest.

Never a dull moment in this hobby. I love the challenge though.

 

[Anemone]

I've always found birdsnests to be sensitive corals, especially to water parameter changes. Did you have a temp/salinity/alkalinity swing recently?

Kevin

 

[rwpollack]

My tank has daily swings in salinity b/c I top off a 1/2 gallon all at once on a system that is 65 gallon total water volume. Pretty minor swing in salinity I always thought but maybe over time more sensitives corals can't sustain that swing.

Temp max's out at 84 during the day down to 80 at night.
No other swings to speak of unless maybe something like a big turbo snail died and I didn't notice it.

Both of these swings (temp & salinity) happen daily though and the bird's nest was happy and growing for months and died within 2 days.

 

[Anemone]

Well, 84 is a little on the high side, temp wise, so that could weaken the coral over time. What about alkalinity? That's usually the cause in coral casualties - especially if the alkalinity is out of line with the nitrate and phosphate.

Kevin