Ball Anemone Eating Hermit! Help!

[BamboozleBean]

I woke up a little late for school this morning, and I checked on my tank just before I left. Only to see 1 of my hermit crabs torn in half with its remains dangling out of the ball anemone, the ball anemone is not even half an inch in width so I don’t know how it accomplished it. I just left for school too so I didn’t have enough time to take the remains out. So I’m worried my tank is going to have an ammonia spike, and I’m also worried the anemone will strike again and eat the other two. What will I do? How will I remove the anemone.

 

[motortrendz]

I wouldnt worry about an amonia spike and it may have just been a molt

 

[BamboozleBean]

I wouldnt worry about an amonia spike and it may have just been a molt

Oh no, it’s dead for sure, and currently being eaten.

 

[BamboozleBean]

I wouldnt worry about an amonia spike and it may have just been a molt

It’s the whole hermit and the shell is gone.

 

[GlassMunky]

i can say FOR SURE 120% that the nem did NOT kill your hermit.
It died, and just got blown onto the nem.

that one hermit wont cause an ammonia spike, ALot of us put more nutrients into the tank when we feed than that hermit dying.
your tank will be fine

 

[NatD]

Good morning.

I agree it's probably a molt, but even if it's not, hermit crabs come out of their shells when they die. So, if it's the whole crab, it died then got caught in the anemone through the current. The little ball anemone didn't hunt down a crab and remove it forcibly from its shell.

Try not to worry while you're at school today. You can check everything out in the afternoon. One hermit won't cause an ammonia spike.

Have a good day at school.

 

[BamboozleBean]

I wouldnt worry about an amonia spike and it may have just been a molt

Good morning.

I agree it's probably a molt, but even if it's not, hermit crabs come out of their shells when they die. So, if it's the whole crab, it died then got caught in the anemone through the current. The little ball anemone didn't hunt down a crab and remove it forcibly from its shell.

Try not to worry while you're at school today. You can check everything out in the afternoon. One hermit won't cause an ammonia spike.

Have a good day at school.

Thank you for the info I appreciate it, that’s odd that it would die though. As the other 2 are doing really well.
How can I tell the difference between a molt and a body? Because the hermit has stringy parts coming out from the anemone.
Also you have a good day too.

 

[GlassMunky]

Thank you for the info I appreciate it, that’s odd that it would die though. As the other 2 are doing really well.
How can I tell the difference between a molt and a body? Because the hermit has stringy parts coming out from the anemone.
Also you have a good day too.

from my experience, generally, a molt will only be the legs and things that are hardened, whereas when the die, you will see the whole backside of the hermit that stays soft and stays inside the shell.
hope this helps.

 

[NatD]

Thank you for the info I appreciate it, that’s odd that it would die though. As the other 2 are doing really well.
How can I tell the difference between a molt and a body? Because the hermit has stringy parts coming out from the anemone.
Also you have a good day too.

Yeah, it does happen. Probably the easiest thing to do will be to count hermits when you get home.

 

[BamboozleBean]

from my experience, generally, a molt will only be the legs and things that are hardened, whereas when the die, you will see the whole backside of the hermit that stays soft and stays inside the shell.
hope this helps.

Sorry I have no experience with hermits as these are my first 3, you can see in the photo that it’s not the whole hermit I didn’t have time to see if it was meaty or not.

 

[New&no clue]

How can I tell the difference between a molt and a body? Because the hermit has stringy parts coming out from the anemone.

I have a hard time with that as well the way I usually tell is with a molt it is blown around easily in the current. If it is a body, and weights more, it tends to drag on the sand in the current. Hermits can die from a whole list of reasons. Mine typically do from fights with other hermit that want their shell, or my cleaner shrimp occasionally rips them out of the shell and eats them. One way to keep aggression down between crabs it to have some extra shells in the tank for them to grow into.

 

[BamboozleBean]

I have a hard time with that as well the way I usually tell is with a molt it is blown around easily in the current. If it is a body, and weights more, it tends to drag on the sand in the current. Hermits can die from a whole list of reasons. Mine typically do from fights with other hermit that want their shell, or my cleaner shrimp occasionally rips them out of the shell and eats them. One way to keep aggression down between crabs it to have some extra shells in the tank for them to grow into.

I do have a 1 extra shell for each of them. All 3 extras are still there, but I can’t find the shell that he was originally in. The 3 hermits, or maybe 2 now, are the only tank inhabitants right now. So something hunting it down is not possible. They all seem cool with each other.

 

[Katrina71]

+1 on a molt

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Typically after a molt the crab will hide for a couple of days until it hardens. I imagine more than likely it is a molt. Ball anemones are not capable of killing hermit crabs.

 

[Island Reef 242]

Just thought I would share my Hermit Cram Anemone battle. The crab had some how been pulled out of his shell and was playing a deadly game of tug-o-war. The crab did get away. You can see in the pic what a hermit crab looks like out of his shell. I would bet yours is just a molt.

 

[BamboozleBean]

Typically after a molt the crab will hide for a couple of days until it hardens. I imagine more than likely it is a molt. Ball anemones are not capable of killing hermit crabs.

I didn’t think something so small could, but my tank has been running for 3 and a half weeks so I don’t know too much. Thanks for the info, should I leave the molt in there?

 

[jeffchapok]

I have mistaken a molt for a dead crab before. It's hard to tell the difference some times.

 

[BamboozleBean]

I have mistaken a molt for a dead crab before. It's hard to tell the difference some times.

It looks so vibrant and identical to the crab, also when you see it sticking out of an anemone you get worried.