Scarlet Leg Hermits turning orange?

[StrangeDejavu]

I added some Scarlet Leg Hermits recently to my tank. They were blood red when I bought them, but since both have molted, they've turned orange. The last one molted about a week ago and he's still orange. Tank has been cycled for a little over a month now, it's a BioCube 29 with regular IO salt (for now) and rock from my previous tank.

Here's some parameters:
Temp 79°F
Salinity 1.026
pH 7.9
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 2.5ppm
PO4 0ppm
Ca 390
Alk 9.6
Mag 1190

Any ideas? TIA

 

[vikinglord13]

I actually just finished skimming a book on reefing and it addressed this.

The author said this isn't uncommon after a molt and it should regain its color soon.

 

[StrangeDejavu]

I actually just finished skimming a book on reefing and it addressed this.

The author said this isn't uncommon after a molt and it should regain its color soon.

Good to hear. I was concerned it was a deficiency of something usually in reef salts that regular IO was lacking, such as Iodine or something like that. Thanks!

 

[evan47]

I am having the exact same problem with my 3 month old tank and nobody can give a real answer.
I also suspected that there was some kind of deficiency such as iodine or calcium but was advised that this was not the case and they would colour up sooner or later.

 

[MidwestReefa]

Mine molted, do they need to have bigger shells to change or will it be ok in the one it has?

 

[thegrun]

You could use Krylon Paint will cover their unsightly legs until full color returns.

 

[thegrun]

Mine molted, do they need to have bigger shells to change or will it be ok in the one it has?

It's always a good idea to leave a couple of shells slightly larger than what your hermits are currently living in laying around in the tank or they will kill another hermit or a snail when they need a larger shell. They don't necessarily need a new shell every time they molt, but sooner or later they will.