Could. My hermit be killing everything?

[terrell wohlrab]

Ok long back story. I had a CBS and a decorator crab together for probably 3 months no problem. I added a couple hermits and snails for a CC, next day CBS lost its claw. That shoukd have been a warning to me.

The following morning i found my CBS basically ripped in half with my decorator eating it. Next day again decorator is dead. Chalked it up to a fight between the two.

Now today a couple months aftee that i fibd one if my chromas looks like it went through a meat grinder along with my goby who has a few nips at its tail fin.

Is it possible my large $4 hermit has juat cost me $100 in livestock?

 

[JaimeAdams]

How big is said hermit?

 

[apathium]

I would chalk it up to coincidence personally. While there is a slight (minuscule, even) possibility that your crab is ravaging your livestock, this is highly unlikely. I would investigate territorial behavior between your fish instead, as signs of tail fin nipping typically point to aggression between fish.

In terms of your CBS losing its claw—it may be the case that it was just molting. When crabs molt, they shed their outer shells and leave behind body parts that typically scare new aquarists into thinking their crab died / was shredded by a predator (been there personally lol). But, in actuality, molting is simply how crabs grow in size.

Do you mind posting your tank parameters? The deterioration of your livestock may be down to an imbalance in your water chemistry. Inverts (in your case, hermits) are extremely sensitive—contrary to somewhat popular opinion—so any death or illness in your inverts serves as a big red flag that something is off and needs to be resolved immediately (!!!) before it progresses and harms your remaining livestock.

If you are completely convinced you have a killer hermit, make sure there's plenty of live rock in your tank for it to graze upon, along with a tiny amount of food scraps. The only cases I've seen of hermits attacking fish have been when a tank was far too clean.

 

[terrell wohlrab]

I also completely forgot that I lost a few hermits as well. I picked up 5 and a large turbo, im down to now 2 hermits. 1 rhe size if a penny. And the one in question is about the size of quarter. Maybe a bit larger

 

[terrell wohlrab]

PH-8.0
No2-.25 ppm
No3-0 ppm
Amonia- 0 ppm
SG- 1.026

My CBS went through 2 or 3 molts. So i do understand that it had never lost its claw tho, and ive read that they will drop a claw as a defense mechanism if they feel scared or threatened. And then dying ~8 hours after that really leads me to believe that something attacked it. And with thr addition of new livestock (the hermits) are niw today what is pointing me into believing they might be the cuase

 

[terrell wohlrab]

I have 2 clowns that look to be untouched.... The goby and chroma(s) like to share the same cave.... 1 chroma seems to also be untouched.... 1 im pretty sure is not going to make it. It can barely swim and is staying at the top of the tank. And the goby is hurt but im hoping will recover. So if these fish are territorial I cpuld see that being a cause. I just seem to have a bunch of coincidenses that seem to be pointing to the same problem. Altough i cpuld be wrong

 

[apathium]

Clownfish are known to be rather territorial and especially aggressive to their own kind, but I've had clownfish display aggressive behavior to other species in my tank as well. If you can, maybe try setting up a camera to see if you can document any aggressive behavior. If not, then just keep a close eye on everyone -- especially at night when they think you aren't looking !

EDIT: forgot to add -- your parameters seem fine, but I would look into the possibility of fin rot as the cause of damage as well. Just to cover your bases

 

[terrell wohlrab]

Clownfish are known to be rather territorial and especially aggressive to their own kind, but I've had clownfish display aggressive behavior to other species in my tank as well. If you can, maybe try setting up a camera to see if you can document any aggressive behavior. If not, then just keep a close eye on everyone -- especially at night when they think you aren't looking !

EDIT: forgot to add -- your parameters seem fine, but I would look into the possibility of fin rot as the cause of damage as well. Just to cover your bases

Ive warched my clowns at nifht they both lay on the rock near a coral I have that they seem to like. The other fish in question lay on the sandbed in a cave, ive never seen my clowns act out twords anything. But tonight ill be sure to watch the tank for a bit

 

[terrell wohlrab]

update* just got off work, Both clowns and the goby are accounted for. My other chroma is MIA. Kinda worries me but might be hiding. Ill check later

 

[Dancingmad]

I would sump the large hermit if possible to exclude it as a variable for a few days. Maybe some nighttime tank camping after the lights go off to see if something else is hiding

 

[terrell wohlrab]

Couple week update. I fpund my other chroma dead in the cave... I had been checking a night often after that with nothing to see.... I noticed my goby darting arpund the tank which is unusual as he normally burys himself in sand in the cave. The "killer hermit" was just sitting in the cave. I watched for a while and saw nothing. Woke up and the hermit was walking arpund my tank with the dead goby. So im now down about 7 things to what i am atill convinced is the hermit. I'm going to redo my CUC and give the hermit to a LFS

 

[terrell wohlrab]

I would sump the large hermit if possible to exclude it as a variable for a few days. Maybe some nighttime tank camping after the lights go off to see if something else is hiding

I do not have a sump. I have a very minimum spec tank

 

[terrell wohlrab]

Still watching. Noticed my smaller clown acting a little weird. Upon investigation poor guy is missing a HUGE chunk out of his fin. Ive had both these clowns for almost a year now so that absolutly rules out fin nipping from other fish... Because everything is now dead but the clowns. I am now 100% convinced it is my hermit and he is going to the LFS