How to keep snails and hermits from destroying corals ?

[Idech]

Is there a way besides getting rid of them ? For a long time I didn’t understand what was wrong with these corals but after noticing big nails and hermits climbing on top of them, I figure they’re causing the problem, as other corals are doing okay.

These inverts serve a purpose so I’d like to keep them but how do I make them leave the corals alone ?

First picture : golden hammer and frogspawn, doing poorly. Second picture : green hammer (they’re only bothering the top head).

Thanks !

 

[Saltyreef]

Get rid of the crabs. Not needed in a reef if you value frags and are having issues with them.

A lot of times the cuc goes hungry if not properly sized

 

[Idech]

Get rid of the crabs. Not needed in a reef if you value frags and are having issues with them.

A lot of times the cuc goes hungry if not properly sized

I had a digitate hydroid infestation and I bought the hermit crabs to get rid of it. Which they did. Now it's under control but would reappear without them I’m afraid.

 

[Nano sapiens]

I had a digitate hydroid infestation and I bought the hermit crabs to get rid of it. Which they did. Now it's under control but would reappear without them I’m afraid.

Have the same hydroids and the crabs can control, but not eliminate them (some hydroids will always have their 'foot' hidden in a crack to regrow again).

You may just have too many crabs and snails. Size the CUC with just enough members to do the cleanup tasks, but not so many that there's always someone crawling on top of the corals.

Also generally, the more mature a system, the less CUC is typically needed.