Blue-Eyed Hermit Advice

Apollo7235 · May 7, 2022

Hi there all,

I have had this blue-eyed hermit for quite some time—almost a year, if I remember right. He’s a pretty little dude, very striking especially under blues.

Unfortunately, however, I purchased a gorgeous California red devil bubble tip a few weeks ago and it was doing really well, then suddenly not so great. I noticed that this hermit was consistently picking at the BTA and pressing it’s very spiked shell into the center, as in literally positioning in front of the nem and backing into it. I (very sadly) clipped all the spikes from his shell to see if it would help disarm him, but now he’s using his claws.

He’s already taken a few sump vacations, but now I’m thinking it’s time for him to go. Is this normal behavior for these little guys?

Also, would it be worth trying to sell him to someone or maybe just try to take him to the LFS? My only concern is that he goes to a good home because he’s really been a great inhab and he’s a riot to watch. I really hate to rehome him, but it’s him versus a $200+ BTA.

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Thanks,

Katelyn

ScubaFish802 · May 7, 2022

Just keep in sump?

Apollo7235 · May 7, 2022

802ScubaFish said:
Just keep in sump?

I thought about it, but my sump is a very dark and lonely place. Looking at a tank upgrade within the next year or so, so I haven’t added any rock to sand down there. It would be a very dark, lonely existence

Uncle99 · May 7, 2022

Crabs, (most) whether now or down the road will cause you grief.
Remove him for sure and save lives.
He provides little value to your echo system.
The BTA will not be the only victim.
I banned every crab in my systems 5 years ago now.
Lost nothing. Fish are so at ease, especially at night.
Sorry.

Weasel1960 · May 7, 2022

Hi how’s things besides a naughty crab? I agree maybe an extended time out in the sump first. Gives you the chance to let the BTA get a bit bigger. Hopefully when you reintroduce crabby may ignore it.

Apollo7235 · May 7, 2022

Uncle99 said:
Crabs, (most) whether now or down the road will cause you grief.
Remove him for sure and save lives.
He provides little value to your echo system.
The BTA will not be the only victim.

Do you think this also goes for my little blue legged and my Halloween hermit? I love them as well and they’re pretty docile. Never bother anything unless the blue-eyed bullies them around.

Apollo7235 · May 7, 2022

Weasel1960 said:
Hi how’s things besides a naughty crab? I agree maybe an extended time out in the sump first. Gives you the chance to let the BTA get a bit bigger. Hopefully when you reintroduce crabby may ignore it.

Maybe so, I’m just worried that it will continue because he’s growing so fast and so bold!

things are good! I just need to get everybody happy enough for me to take some good tank shots.

Nice to hear from you! Any luck getting that seahorse tank going?

Apollo7235 · May 7, 2022

Apollo7235 said:
Do you think this also goes for my little blue legged and my Halloween hermit? I love them as well and they’re pretty docile. Never bother anything unless the blue-eyed bullies them around.

Day one of my BTA settling in, by the way

Uncle99 · May 7, 2022

Apollo7235 said:
Do you think this also goes for my little blue legged and my Halloween hermit? I love them as well and they’re pretty docile. Never bother anything unless the blue-eyed bullies them around.

To be completely honest, I Trust NO crab at all.
If you like them fine, but be prepared to lose stuff here and there.
I removed every every every crab.
Now I lose nothing.

From the fish perspective, would you be stressed out at night if something was stalking you, cause that’s their thing, stalk, eat whatever I can catch.

In my systems, one rule is you can’t bother, chase, bite or consume your friends.

If you break that rule, Your Gone. Period.

Sleep better for me too.

Apollo7235 · May 7, 2022

Uncle99 said:
To be completely honest, I Trust NO crab at all.
If you like them fine, but be prepared to lose stuff here and there.
I removed every every every crab.
Now I lose nothing.

From the fish perspective, would you be stressed out at night if something was stalking you, cause that’s their thing, stalk, eat whatever I can catch.

Definitely a good point. Maybe that’s what I need to do. I think it’s going to start with this little guy and I’ll just have to go from there.

Uncle99 · May 7, 2022

Apollo7235 said:
Definitely a good point. Maybe that’s what I need to do. I think it’s going to start with this little guy and I’ll just have to go from there.

That’s a great idea. This one’s a confirmed biter.
Keep close eye.
If your missing snails, corals polyps shrunk or just gone overnight…..guess who….

To me, if the crabs are well fed, this can reduce the risk greatly, but sometimes spikes the nutrients which leads to pest algaes setting in.

If you love them keep them, if you don’t, remove.

Sounds very cold, I’m sorry, but I have to do what’s best for my system.

Uncle99 · May 7, 2022

Apollo7235 said:
Day one of my BTA settling in, by the way

Very very nice.
Here’s mine.

Weasel1960 · May 7, 2022

Apollo7235 said:
Maybe so, I’m just worried that it will continue because he’s growing so fast and so bold!

things are good! I just need to get everybody happy enough for me to take some good tank shots.

Nice to hear from you! Any luck getting that seahorse tank going?

Working on the design for custom stand and canopy. Hoping to be up and running by December. I have read that the smaller blue/red leg hermits are more docile, even safe for the sea horses.

Macdaddynick1 · May 7, 2022

I love these zebra hermits. And unfortunately one of these guys ended up crashing a huge colony of my Godzilla Yumas. He did exactly the same, he’d crawl around and poke holes in the shrooms. the next thing I know all my Yumas got a bacterial infection and melted on me. I grew them out for years and they died within a week or two. :/ $3 well spent. He’s in my SPS tank now.

Apollo7235 · May 7, 2022

Uncle99 said:
Very very nice.
Here’s mine.

Thank you!

Poor thing has not been happy for the pat week or so. Ole Blue-Eyes is currently residing in the sump pending a new home, so hopefully that helps.

I hope all is well! Great hearing from you.

Apollo7235 · May 7, 2022

Weasel1960 said:
Working on the design for custom stand and canopy. Hoping to be up and running by December. I have read that the smaller blue/red leg hermits are more docile, even safe for the sea horses.

That’s fantastic! Definitely excited to follow your build!

Apollo7235 · May 7, 2022

Macdaddynick1 said:
I love these zebra hermits. And unfortunately one of these guys ended up crashing a huge colony of my Godzilla Yumas. He did exactly the same, he’d crawl around and poke holes in the shrooms. the next thing I know all my Yumas got a bacterial infection and melted on me. I grew them out for years and they died within a week or two. :/ $3 well spent. He’s in my SPS tank now.

Yeah. Unfortunately, I think this may be the end of the hermit road for me. I don’t have a second tank so my options are a little limited