Any idea's why....

[flydan]

Hey, Anybody have any idea why all my scarlet hermits have died? I got a clean-up crew from this site on 7/20 that included 20 scarlet hermits, 20 small blueleg hermits, two brittle stars, a cleaner shrimp, 2 emerald crabs and 20 snails. Everything is doing well except ALL the scarlets are MIA. I did a rough count and I could see 12 of the blue leg hermits. Keep in mind there is 115lbs of lr in a 55gal tank, so I can't see them all. The only other thing missing is a peppermint shrimp I add 4 days ago. I really liked him!
Any idea's would be welcome. Water is stable. (Am 0, Ni 0, Na 0, Ph 8.2) I don't test for calcium but I add Kents Calcium daily, as well as Iodine and Ph Buffer. Weekly I add Coral Vite. Temp is 78 and SG is .024.
Thanks!
Dan'l

 

[axolotl]

Maybe you have an unidentified stalker that came in on your LR. Are you finding any bodies? Empty shells? Could be a worm.

 

[flydan]

Hey,
Oh yeah, the shells are laying all over the place, as well as the extra ones I put in. The blue-legs are 1/4 the size the scarlets were and they are fine.
Dan'l

 

[twoods71]

I've read from several members on this board that blue legs are very aggresive and will kill each other as well as other hermits. All my blue legs get along ok and have only lost 2, but I recently added 5 scarlet hermits and 3 have died. Not sure why but it may be the blue legs.

 

[flydan]

Hey,
I was worried about the same thing, but the scarlets were easily twice as big as the bluelegs and I put plenty of extra shells in for them to find. I have never seen them attack each other either. Doesn't mean they don't after the lights go out, but I really don't think they are big enough.
Dan'l

 

[andymi]

I lost the majority of mine too when I got them. This is why I stick with blue-legged hermits now. Not sure what got to most of mine, it could have been the Sally Lightfoot killing those as well as my fish. I think I have about 5 or 6 scarlets left from the original 20 I bought, and I too have many blue legs in there.
--Andy

 

[nm reef]

Hmmmm.....thats strange....I've got reds and blues from here (twice).......both my reef & fowlr/ls have each type.....never have seen much of a problem.........lost a few of both types over time but nothing to worry over.........kind of natural to loose a few here and there....but I'd be concerned too if mine started fading quick!!!!!