Toadstool and Blue Legged Crabs

[Tang tank]

I have had a toadstool in my tank for a few weeks. My maintenance guy moved it just a little bit on the same rock that it has been on since we put it in the tank. Now I can't keep the blue legged crabs off of it. It doesn't seem to happy about this and the polyps keep closing where the crabs get on. I have gone into the tank and moved the crabs to the total opposite side of the tank for them to only migrate back over and back onto the toadstool. Should I get rid of the crabs?

 

[jeff@zina.com]

Is it sliming? The crabs are after something on it, once whetever is on it is gone they'll go away.

Jeff

 

[r33fbuilder]

is the coral shedding? leathers shed every so often and i've noticed that crabs and shrimp go for the skin that it sheds. Usually they're not gonna do any harm to the coral, so i wouldnt worry bout it. I'd get rid of the crabs though (because they dont do anything as far as cleaning... they prefer killing snails) and get more snails... snails do more work than hermits any day.

 

[singold]

I think it is beneficial. The hermit crabs in my estimate seem to assist the toadstool with the shedding process. I have a toadstool leather and have noticed everytime it is in the shedding phase a hermit is on it assisting. Probably eats some of the dieing matter. The hermit is never on it, unless it is in its shedding phase.

Hermits sometimes get a bad rap in this hobby. Personally, I find them very beneficial in many ways. Another example, eating leftover food from feeding aquarium. Keeping nitrates and phosphates lower from doing so.

 

[r33fbuilder]

I was more implying that there are other clean up crew critters that do the same thing hermits do, but better, and without killing other snails...

 

[meatball87]

The hermits are cleaning it mine are all over my leathers when their shedding and will leave it alone once its done

 

[cjdevito]

Hermits sometimes get a bad rap in this hobby. Personally, I find them very beneficial in many ways. Another example, eating leftover food from feeding aquarium. Keeping nitrates and phosphates lower from doing so.

The bad rap hermits get is entirely deserved. A couple per tank is okay, but keeping more than that (especially at the old 1 per gallon suggested stocking figure) is just asking for it. If the main thing hermits do for you is eating leftover food, I highly recommend ORA's tiger gobies as alternatives. They're as small as hermit crabs and will voraciously eat anything that makes it to the bottom of the tank, and have the added benefit of not bothering snails or corals. 1 per 10-20 gallons seems about right, stocking level wise.

Plus they're cute.

 

[Tang tank]

My toadstool isn't shedding. I keep taking the crabs off when I notice it. My toadstool isn't enjoying them being on it. It's darker, not opening all the way, and looks smaller.