dwarf blue leg hermits on zoas

[Wolfgang8810]

I have a smaller colony of zoanthids that have a longer tube before the polyp opens and in amongst the "stalks" there are a few dwarf blue leg hermits. the polyps ARE open but im wondering if the hermits are or are going to hurt them? Please help so im not worrying about this all day.

[BigAl07]

I just had an "issue" with some "Micro Blues" in my work tank. I have some long tentacle yellow palys that have been growing GREAT! I noticed that the center section (maybe 10 polyps) were looking different. Then under closer inspection I noticed something was wrong. The tentacles have literally been nipped off at the polyps edge. I watched for days to see what could be doing this. Finally one day I just happened to look up and SAW one of my micro blue legged hermit crabs literally tugging and cutting the long yellow tentacles.

[Wolfgang8810]

i just picked up the rock they were on and shook them off. ployps are all open now and my xenia is also opened looks really pretty. Im having trouble id ing what it specificly is can you help?

[lcstorc]

If your crabs have developed a taste for corals I would remove them. Then again I would remove them regardless so maybe my opinion doesn't count. I've just seen them eat too many things to keep them in my reef.

[Witfull]

Crab Manifesto

[goldenmean]

I have never had problems with hermits harming corals.
My hermits do tend to go to all new corals and the rocks they are on. There is new fresh micro algae on the new rock and they want that tasty treat.

[Wolfgang8810]

i think thats what i might have been there were some green stringy algie on it but now its gone.


Also Im having trouble ID ing what my xenia specificly is can you help?

[goldenmean]

I am not very good with the different varieties of xenia.
I had some pulsing xenia that never really did too well in my nano and eventually it disappeared. I have heard that some people have too much luck with xenia and it grow like weeds and others, like me, have no luck with it.
I may try it again one day in my 55g.

[Witfull]

pic is to small to tell what it is.

[goldenmean]

click on the pic and it will get much larger.

[panmanmatt]

Originally Posted by Witfull

pic is to small to tell what it is.

psst, Dave click on the pics and they get bigger.



Looks to be xenia elongota to me.

[Witfull]

ok,,ok,,,i clicked....red sea 2 tone xenia.

matt you have some of mine~

[Wolfgang8810]

so for a first tome reefer is it pretty hardy? does it pulse?

[panmanmatt]

Yes I do. I found 1 out of the 4 tanks I put it will not support xenia. Go figure that huh.

[panmanmatt]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang8810

so for a first tome reefer is it pretty hardy? does it pulse?

It either flourishes or melts, no in between with xenia. If it doesn't melt, it's a hardy coral.

Like I said above, I put it in 4 different tanks and 3 out of the 4 are doing great, 1 tank melted in about 2 weeks time. All xenia was from the same source tank.