Hermits/Conch being a pain in my butt

[rja]

Hello all,
It seems like everytime I add anything, my hermits need to inpsect it. God forbid my fat Conch lays on whatever coral I put in the tank. All the time I look at my zoa garden and there’s literally paths of closed heads like a frog through duckweed. The hermits will sit on my new RFA too. Question, are there any good clean-up crew inverts that stay off of corals or at least are light-footed?

 

[SlugSnorter]

Hello all,
It seems like everytime I add anything, my hermits need to inpsect it. God forbid my fat Conch lays on whatever coral I put in the tank. All the time I look at my zoa garden and there’s literally paths of closed heads like a frog through duckweed. The hermits will sit on my new RFA too. Question, are there any good clean-up crew inverts that stay off of corals or at least are light-footed?

some snails or maybe pithos

 

[Lyss]

Just shoo or bump them off w/a long pipette. Ceriths are very light-footed and I never have to worry about moving them off stuff, but everything will climb on anything in my experience.

My conch is ridiculously laid back, and I just pick her up w/tongs and move her when she’s somewhere I’m not happy about. The hermits I just flick off w/a pipette and let them fall (lol)

 

[rja]

Just shoo or bump them off w/a long pipette. Ceriths are very light-footed and I never have to worry about moving them off stuff, but everything will climb on anything in my experience.

My conch is ridiculously laid back, and I just pick her up w/tongs and move her when she’s somewhere I’m not happy about. The hermits I just flick off w/a pipette and let them fall (lol)

That settles it. Im getting a “no.” stick for my hermits. (2’ long wooden dowel)

 

[Pkunk35]

i def hate hermits for this very problem! I do think the red legged “scarlet” variety are fairly dedicated algae munchers but be forewarned they still eat meat or kill snails for shells, but ime they bother coral just a bit less

Emeralds (crabs) hide all day and usually only inspect coral when there’s something to eat on them. When thinking of non-annoying cleanup crew they certainly come to mind.

 

[SlugSnorter]

i def hate hermits for this very problem! I do think the red legged “scarlet” variety are fairly dedicated algae munchers but be forewarned they still eat meat or kill snails for shells, but ime they bother coral just a bit less

Emeralds (crabs) hide all day and usually only inspect coral when there’s something to eat on them. When thinking of non-annoying cleanup crew they certainly come to mind.

I like pithos, basically emerald crabs but even more docile. the males basically can only defend themselves by camouflage

 

[shakacuz]

pitho crabs are the better emerald crab

 

[Lyss]

That settles it. Im getting a “no.” stick for my hermits. (2’ long wooden dowel)

A "no" stick is exactly the right thing lol. The trick is you have to be fast and knock them before they realize what's going on and grab on w/their claws.

I have always had scarlet hermits and agree w/others that they're less of a PIA and they do pick at the rocks pretty good. But I started w/three and now only have one left b/c they killed each other (not snails) for certain coveted shells. Also agree about pitho crabs, especially the males. I had one for a bit and he would enthusiastically take nori and bits of ulva from me, which was fun.