Digitate hydroids and crabs?

[Levinson]

The digitate hydroids are spreading rapidly in my tank. This started to happen after my emerald crab died, so I thought that maybe the emerald crab might have been eating them when it was around. I know this might not have been the case, so I wanted to ask if anyone with emerald crabs ever had digitate hydroids spreading in their tank before.
I thought about getting an emerald crab just to experiment but I've already put feather duster worms in the tank and I fear the crab will kill it. And I couldn't find any emerald crabs anywhere where I live. They were all sold out and the LFSs had no idea when they'll be bringing them in again.

Also, I have read that Halloween hermit crabs eat digitate hydroids. But again, I couldn't find any being sold locally and the stores don't seem to import them anymore. They were imported till about a year ago.
So I was thinking maybe I could try the blue legged hermits instead since I can get those. Does anyone with blue-legged hermit crabs ever had digitate hydroids spread in their tanks before?
The blue hermits could also pick at the dusters but I was hoping getting a smaller one may reduce the risk.

 

[sixty_reefer]

A banded coral shrimp got my zanclea hydroids under control in the past. Not sure if it would be a suitable addition to your tank.

 

[Levinson]

A banded coral shrimp got my zanclea hydroids under control in the past. Not sure if it would be a suitable addition to your tank.

Thanks for the info. Too bad I can't have them around, they'd beat up my other inverts.

 

[Levinson]

Apparently, someone has seen the emerald crabs eating them digitate hydroids but as with many animals in this hobby, some do and some don't.
So I guess it is probable that my emerald crab might have been keeping them at bay when it was around.

 

[StacysReef]

The digitate hydroids are spreading rapidly in my tank. This started to happen after my emerald crab died, so I thought that maybe the emerald crab might have been eating them when it was around. I know this might not have been the case, so I wanted to ask if anyone with emerald crabs ever had digitate hydroids spreading in their tank before.
I thought about getting an emerald crab just to experiment but I've already put feather duster worms in the tank and I fear the crab will kill it. And I couldn't find any emerald crabs anywhere where I live. They were all sold out and the LFSs had no idea when they'll be bringing them in again.

Also, I have read that Halloween hermit crabs eat digitate hydroids. But again, I couldn't find any being sold locally and the stores don't seem to import them anymore. They were imported till about a year ago.
So I was thinking maybe I could try the blue legged hermits instead since I can get those. Does anyone with blue-legged hermit crabs ever had digitate hydroids spread in their tanks before?
The blue hermits could also pick at the dusters but I was hoping getting a smaller one may reduce the risk.

I have 2 Emeralds, 1 Pithos, at least 7 Blue-legged Hermits, and 2 Bumblebee snails and the Digitate Hydroids are out of control in my tank. Nothing works. They are even on the spare shells I have for the Hermits.

 

[Levinson]

I have 2 Emeralds, 1 Pithos, at least 7 Blue-legged Hermits, and 2 Bumblebee snails and the Digitate Hydroids are out of control in my tank. Nothing works. They are even on the spare shells I have for the Hermits.

Thank you for sharing. I've got a new pair of emerald crabs since then but I have not seen them eat the digitate hydroids. They did go down in their numbers but I can't tell if this is because of the emerald crabs or not.

 

[yOyOYoo]

How is your progress on your digitate hydroids? Just found a few in my tank. I tried using tweezers to pull them out but I couldn’t get a good grip on the stem and it would rapidly retract. I ended up using some epoxy putty to try to smother them. Hope it works.

 

[Levinson]

How is your progress on your digitate hydroids? Just found a few in my tank. I tried using tweezers to pull them out but I couldn’t get a good grip on the stem and it would rapidly retract. I ended up using some epoxy putty to try to smother them. Hope it works.

Not much of a progress. I just live with them. They aren't all over the place like they used to though.

 

[yOyOYoo]

I’m glad they’ve decreased in numbers. I’ve read that the population can self limit after a while.