Blue leg hermit sudden death

[SteveBunlies]

I had my blue-legged hermit for a couple of months. For the past few days he's been cruising back and forth across the top of the rock work, munching away at algae. When I fed the fish this morning he was still up there, but about hour later he was out of his shell, not moving. He has since fallen down on the sand, so I'm pretty sure he's a goner. All tank params are good. The other inverts seem fine. My halloween hermit is doing fine. I can't figure out what might have gone wrong. 75 g tank with sump that's been up since November. There are two clowns, a blue hippo tang that's about the size of a quarter, a tiny lawnmower blenny, and a couple of pajama cardinals. Any ideas?

 

[IceNein]

Are you absolutely positive it's not a moult?

My largest blue leg had me fooled once. He just molted right out in the open in the corner of the tank, and his moult was pretty colorful. I even picked his shell up and looked inside, but he must have been tucked way back inside.

After they moult, they will hide out in their shell for a day or so while their new shell hardens up.

 

[SteveBunlies]

Are you absolutely positive it's not a moult?

My largest blue leg had me fooled once. He just molted right out in the open in the corner of the tank, and his moult was pretty colorful. I even picked his shell up and looked inside, but he must have been tucked way back inside.

After they moult, they will hide out in their shell for a day or so while their new shell hardens up.

It could be. What I thought was him looked smaller that I would have thought.

 

[56longroof]

It could be a molt. But there is also the reality that every once in a while tank inhabitants die unexpectedly and without any signs. It's just a part of the hobby that is unavoidable. They best we can do is provide the best environment for them as possible and try not to stress over these things too much. Unless there is a clear indicator, then react accordingly.