Electric Blue Hermit - eats stylos?

[KK's Reef]

I added an electric blue hermit to my tank. Doesn't move much and appears lethargic, staying in the same spot for hours/days. It always climbs onto my stylophora colony. He just hangs out and I think he eats the polyps. My stylo used to bushy and healthy, now there's a few patches of missing polyps. Are these crabs known to eat coral polyps?

 

[blaxsun]

From what I've been told electric blue hermits can be very aggressive towards other types of hermits (not sure about whether or not they take after corals). Is there enough to eat?

 

[damsels are not mean]

I added an electric blue hermit to my tank. Doesn't move much and appears lethargic, staying in the same spot for hours/days. It always climbs onto my stylophora colony. He just hangs out and I think he eats the polyps. My stylo used to bushy and healthy, now there's a few patches of missing polyps. Are these crabs known to eat coral polyps?

They aren't, but they could be eating it. They are omnivorous scavengers so if they see an opportunity they'll take it.

 

[KK's Reef]

From what I've been told electric blue hermits can be very aggressive towards other types of hermits (not sure about whether or not they take after corals). Is there enough to eat?

I don't have an algae outbreak, but there's enough of a film on the rocks. He also gets fed frozen brine, calanus, and nori when the fish are fed.

 

[doubleshot00]

I inherited one from a local reefer and it was chewing on my favia colony. Gave it to my LFS.

 

[KK's Reef]

I inherited one from a local reefer and it was chewing on my favia colony. Gave it to my LFS.

lol

I don't mind him eating stylo polyps. But what if he moves on to the other corals. Not sure if I'm gonna keep him, but he looks so dang cool.

On a not-so-cool side note, my pom-pom crab ate my yasha goby. The goby was also a new addition and wasn't doing well from the start. It wondered into the wrong spot and became a very expensive meal.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I dont consider them or scarlet reds as reef safe as they will pick and scrape to scavenge with no regard for coral damage

 

[damsels are not mean]

lol

I don't mind him eating stylo polyps. But what if he moves on to the other corals. Not sure if I'm gonna keep him, but he looks so dang cool.

On a not-so-cool side note, my pom-pom crab ate my yasha goby. The goby was also a new addition and wasn't doing well from the start. It wondered into the wrong spot and became a very expensive meal.

Pom pom crab was likely scavenging. I don't think they even have the capacity to kill much of anything. The anemones sting I suppose but not enough to catch a fish.