Literally got my tank about 48 hours ago and I'm pretty new to coral reef tanks and salt water tanks in general. The state of the corals were pretty dull and muddy and they seem to be flourishing better after 48hrs of just being in a better environment. Everything in the tank is established, the fish, clean up crew, corals, etc. Some of my corals have begun to peek and get their cute squishy tops back but one and JUST ONE little hermit crab boy keeps climbing on top of them and just sitting making them close back up. I'm wondering if I might need to relocate him? Hes the only one doing it and I'm not 100% sure if he is hindering any growth for the coral. My main focus for my tank is indeed the coral and I just dont want one little bully in there mucking things up. Every time I knock him back down he climbs up to them no matter what rock and perching on top. Can anyone assist me? Educate me? Am I being overly paranoid and more protective than my female clown fish?? Lol thanks in advance.
Problem Hermit Crab??
- Thread starter Gudetamom
- Start date
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TriggerFinger
2500 Club Member
Mine run over corals but don’t typically hang out on them. Maybe it’s eating algae bits or left over food? If you feel it’s bothering the coral too much you can move him to a sump.
If I didnt knock him off he would just camp out all day. Idk why. And he doesnt really care what coral its just whatever is highest ground?? I'm not entirely sure tbh...
My tank is quite small (30gal) so it doesnt have a sump. Tho I might rehome him. I would feel to bad to just yeet him entirely.
LRT
10K Club member
I do have a particularly nasty red legged hermit crabs that likes to pick fights with other hermit crabs as well as hang out at the feet of my mushroom corals and agitate them.
Had enough and banished him to the sump. Lol
Had enough and banished him to the sump. Lol
ZipAdeeZoa
Valuable Member
As long as he's no picking at the flesh of the coral I wouldn't be too concered. Every now and then when looking at my coral QT I see some closed polyps and its not hard to gather what corals the snails have just cleaned ;Hilarious It could also be an issue if he's only constantly sitting on one coral. Can't really give you an explanation for why hermits act weird, some of them just do.
Double monti 61
Well-Known Member
Maybe it is hungry and looking for food?
Uncle99
10K Club member
At some point, crabs will become a problem, including killing each other/bothering/testing/munching on coral and eating livestock, anything they can catch, they will eat. They are opportunity killers which create stress on inhabitants at night as they prowl the resting areas. Seen one catch a clown by the belly.
I found crabs to be the most useless algae consumer, even emeralds, I rid each and every one of them about 5 years ago, but left the snails.
They are sold as a CUC member by LFS. We called them “revenue generators” as people come back, week after week to replace things that these CUC members consume.
Now, for the past 4 years, I still have all my snails and I have no mystery disappearances. Hum?
Great water, toothbrush, and a variety of snails keeps my tank clean.
I found crabs to be the most useless algae consumer, even emeralds, I rid each and every one of them about 5 years ago, but left the snails.
They are sold as a CUC member by LFS. We called them “revenue generators” as people come back, week after week to replace things that these CUC members consume.
Now, for the past 4 years, I still have all my snails and I have no mystery disappearances. Hum?
Great water, toothbrush, and a variety of snails keeps my tank clean.
Double monti 61
Well-Known Member
I have crabs and they do not bother me!
