hermits eating lps?

[Rpujol85]

Woke up this morning to see my green star polyps looking like I had tken a lawnmower to them, and my hammer coral with 2 of 4 heads totally retracted looking like its missing alot of polyps. Also little bits of neon green all smattered across the rock and sand (bits of hammer tips, maybe star polyps too).

Tank inhabitants:2 clown fish, 5-6 unknown hermits, and 2 peppermint shrimp. Otherwise some zoas, ricordias, mushrooms, star polyps, and hammer coral.

Both the hammer and the star polyps seemed in good shape so its not like, whoever the culprit is, was cleaning off dead matter.

Any advice?

 

[ReefPops]

I'm concerned about the unknown hermit crab part. Not all hermits are reef safe so I don't know if that could be the issue. I'm also not sure if peppermint shrimps ever turn on LPS.

 

[Rpujol85]

there is one hermit that is significantly larger than the others and his legs do seem a little on the hairy side, im leaning towards this guy too, but wanted to get feedback from you all first.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

This is why I avoid hermit crabs in my reef tank. Peppermint shrimp have also been known to destroy some corals.

 

[Dixie_reefer]

Pictures of the crabs would be really helpful!

 

[Rpujol85]

Ok it happened again! Something munched on the hammer coral again!

But I dont think it was the suspect large hermit as he is in the same exact spot as he was last night before lights out.

Unfortunately I'm starting to think it could be the peppermint shrimp, as I've read in another thread people having problems with them.

I'll try my best to get some pics, but my camera is meh, and the hammer and the hermit are in wierd spots in the tank to photograph due to the curved glass.

 

[Rpujol85]

 

[Rpujol85]

The crab in question is the one in the bottom right corner in picture number one. (I couldn't get a more detailed shot as the files are too large to post)
You can see in pic two how chewed up the head is, and that was the biggest and healthiest one!

What you guys think?
Hermit that hasn't been very active (stayed about in that same spot since the first incident), or the peppermint shrimp?

 

[ReefPops]

Hard to tell from the pic especially since I'm on my phone, but my theory is when in doubt take it out. If the hermit didn't move I'd guess it was the shrimp, but either way, it's the hammer this time, who knows what might be next.

 

[Pkunk35]

My bet would be on the peppermint shrimp. Shrimp are voracious and have no problems picking food out of coral polyps.

Hermits are annoying but i've never seen one jump on a hammer to munch on it. My chalices are a different story.

 

[KSzegi]

Peppermint shrimp! They will never be allowed in my tanks again - had several that loved lps!

 

[Rpujol85]

The crab that I thought was the culprit, I found dead when I got home tonight from dinner. This mystery is on going. Thanks for all the replies.
Could it have died from eating the LPS? Stung? Any thoughts?