SPS Hermit Crab???

watdachuck · Mar 27, 2014

So on previous occasions I have banished a couple Red Legged Hermit Crabs to the sump after viewing this behavior. Upon watching multiple other Red Legged Hermits decide their new hangouts were on top of my SPS I decided to tank a closer look. I have concluded that these guys are literally just hanging out, or in any case causing no harm at all to the coral.

Has anyone else viewed behavior like this? These are two different crabs repeating the behavior of previously banished crabs.

StikHedRon · Mar 27, 2014

Yes, I had a rather large hermit that would sit on my acros and I gave him about 4 opportunities to stop then told him.... once more and your banished to the sump.. Next day, perched on my acros, bam now he's in the sump

lakeviewink · Mar 27, 2014

Yup. Mine will hang out and sleep in my acros from time to time. No harm doneâ€¦

watdachuck · Mar 27, 2014

ronhaskovec said:
Yes, I had a rather large hermit that would sit on my acros and I gave him about 4 opportunities to stop then told him.... once more and your banished to the sump.. Next day, perched on my acros, bam now he's in the sump

Ha ha it's like a dog peeing on the carpet...I swear, one more time!!!

TriggerThis · Mar 27, 2014

That would make me mad

Tahoe61 · Mar 27, 2014

I knew this guy that had a large tank dominated by large sps colonies, every day around 4 pm the hermits would crawl to the tips of the Acropora. My totally uneducated guess is that they do this as some sort of feeding response (maybe high tide in the wild) or pheromone response.

watdachuck · Mar 27, 2014

I would have to agree at this point. I have not seen any damage as a result of this activity. I almost feel a little guilty for already sticking several in the sump but then again I think they are having a pretty good time in there cleaning things up!

evolved · Mar 27, 2014

Most of my hermits (orange and black) do this when they molt. They'll go "hide" in a stationary spot in the colony for ~3 days, then be on the move again.

jstec · Mar 31, 2014

I have one that has made a home inside my hammers sits right in the center of all 5 heads and they don't seem to mind unless he moves around

watdachuck · Mar 31, 2014

Look at this guy....right when I think he should be banished to the sump he apologizes and starts pounding bubble algae!!! Saaweeettt!!!!!!

Davesgt · Mar 31, 2014

Awesome

watdachuck said:
Look at this guy....right when I think he should be banished to the sump he apologizes and starts pounding bubble algae!!! Saaweeettt!!!!!!

Dfrashid · Oct 28, 2022

watdachuck said:
So on previous occasions I have banished a couple Red Legged Hermit Crabs to the sump after viewing this behavior. Upon watching multiple other Red Legged Hermits decide their new hangouts were on top of my SPS I decided to tank a closer look. I have concluded that these guys are literally just hanging out, or in any case causing no harm at all to the coral.

Has anyone else viewed behavior like this? These are two different crabs repeating the behavior of previously banished crabs.