Hermits all over purple Gorgonian

[Arsenix2001]

I posted this a few days ago. My purple Gorgonian has been fully extended for 6 months. Its now retracted and i had a hermit crab that was obsessed with it and would not leave it. Even after knocking him off twice, back again the next morning. Knocked him off again and he was away from it all day. Now came down to two hermits up in tbe branches. There are copepods crawling on it, and i see an ever slight tint of oranginsh red algae on one or two of the branches in just a small spot. I first thought this hermit was obsessed but now that there are two, a blue leg and a zebra I'm wondering what is going on with the gorgonian. Should I leave it alone? Is it possibly getting ready to shed? Never seen it do that

 

[esther]

I would just leave it alone. We have two gorgonians in our tank and our hermits (and sometimes emerald crabs) would crawl up on them in the beginning because they were eating the algae off it them. They haven't touched them in about a month now. Just my 2¢ from my experience. I doubt they're actually eating your coral.

 

[Copingwithpods]

Might be unrelated but I just had a horn coral just about eat a neon green birdsnest. After I separated them I noticed my whole cuc crawling all over the dying tissue of the birdsnest. Sure enough they picked it clean of dead tissue and left it alone leaving only the surviving tissue. So might be that crab is eating dying tissue on your coral. Far as I know they won't touch it if it was alive and healthy.

 

[Arsenix2001]

Might be unrelated but I just had a horn coral just about eat a neon green birdsnest. After I separated them I noticed my whole cuc crawling all over the dying tissue of the birdsnest. Sure enough they picked it clean of dead tissue and left it alone leaving only the surviving tissue. So might be that crab is eating dying tissue on your coral. Far as I know they won't touch it if it was alive and healthy.

Man, ok. Thanks for the reply. Doesnt seem like they are really picking at it. How long can a Gorgonian stay retracted before worry? All of my zoas, torch, hammer, birdsnest, monti and Cespitularia are wide open and happy.

 

[Arsenix2001]

Man, ok. Thanks for the reply. Doesnt seem like they are really picking at it. How long can a Gorgonian stay retracted before worry? All of my zoas, torch, hammer, birdsnest, monti and Cespitularia are wide open and happy.

Anyone on how long a Gorgonian can safely stay retracted? Darn same two crabs are still on it tonight. Do see any evidence of them damaging the purple flesh

 

[Birddog61]

Anyone on how long a Gorgonian can safely stay retracted? Darn same two crabs are still on it tonight. Do see any evidence of them damaging the purple flesh

Some 2 to 3 weeks when thay are photosynthetic

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Anyone on how long a Gorgonian can safely stay retracted? Darn same two crabs are still on it tonight. Do see any evidence of them damaging the purple flesh

Do you dose the tank with any phytoplankton? Polys will extend when there is food in the water column

 

[Arsenix2001]

Do you dose the tank with any phytoplankton? Polys will extend when there is food in the water column

Yes I do, and normally it has been extended every day. Trying to figure out which came first the chicken or the egg, did it close and the crabs got on it because something's going on or did the crabs discover it after 5 months and now irritated it so its retracted. Ugh lol. The main culprit crab is getting one last chance before he gets 86ed.

 

[Birddog61]

Yes I do, and normally it has been extended every day. Trying to figure out which came first the chicken or the egg, did it close and the crabs got on it because something's going on or did the crabs discover it after 5 months and now irritated it so its retracted. Ugh lol. The main culprit crab is getting one last chance before he gets 86ed.

Crab legs for dinner. Sweeeeet

 

[Thespammailaccount]

The crabs are more than likely eating dead tissue and/or algae. If there is algae on them it needs to be removed and flow increased or the gorgonian will not make it