Are my Crabs Compatible with Coral?

[JtheFishMan]

In my saltwater tank, I have several blue legged hermit crabs and a small pipe organ coral. I just read on an article that these crabs can eat pipe organ coral, but some others are saying they won’t. You can see my hermit on the coral in the pictures. It doesn’t seem to be eating them, though, but the corals slightly close up when the crabs shell rubs against the sprouting parts.

Does anyone have a solid answer to that question; do blue legged hermit crabs eat pipe organ coral?

 

[lapin]

In my ipinion
The crab is prob picking off dead tissue or something else on the coral.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I got rid of my blue leg hermits when I caught one eating my acan. I sat and watched it eat about 4 clawfulls, pulling the flesh off before I fished it out. Never again in my tank.

 

[anthonygf]

Most likely what lapin said but still stresses coral. I got rid of all my hermits because most of them would climb up on my monti breaking branches off. In 4 months the crabs started climbing up the monti, making a bunch of frags for me .... Before and after pics.

 

[JtheFishMan]

I got rid of my blue leg hermits when I caught one eating my acan. I sat and watched it eat about 4 clawfulls, pulling the flesh off before I fished it out. Never again in my tank.

My crabs sit on them often, but I never see them clamp off pieces of it.

 

[JtheFishMan]

Most likely what lapin said but still stresses coral. I got rid of all my hermits because most of them would climb up on my monti breaking branches off. In 4 months the crabs started climbing up the monti, making a bunch of frags for me .... Before and after pics.

Yes, my crabs spend a good amount of time just sitting on top of the coral, but I never see them clamping off chunks of it.

 

[Uncle99]

Never trust a crab!
In most cases they are bad, have been bad, or likely will become bad with a few exceptions.
I removed every single one 5 years ago now, and funny as it may seem, no more unexplained death, still have all my snails.
If you love them, keep them.
I can’t afford their grocery list.