Who is eating hermits

[zibnata]

I recieved an order last week from SWF ,everything was great, but now I notice dead hermits out of their shells. Among the stuff I got were a porclain crab, coral banded shrimp,serpent star.The star dissapeared in the rocks and the coral banded shrimp hides all day.Anyone know who eats hermits ? I also got a cleaner shrimp and emerald crab,but I already have those and never had a problem.

 

[banshee]

Are you sure it is a dead hermit and not a molt?

 

[killafins]

The simplest answer, if it wasn't a molt, would by the hermits are killing eachother. Do you notice your hermits in different shells than before? Sometimes hermits will think they want a certain shell so they kill the owner and decide later they don't want it.

 

[dam]

I have had similar experience as was wondering if I had some incompatible tank mates. I received 10 scarlet hermits in good health but within two weeks I was down to one (who has been healthy now for 3 months). The other tank mates are a red serpent star, peppermint shrimp, turbos, 2 perc clowns and a yellow tail damsel. Tank parameters all look good although nitrates crept up to about 10-15 ppm. I keep salinity at 1.021-1.022. Tank had been stable for a few months before adding them.
I have also noticed some attrition on my turbos over the last 3 months. I have probably lost ~10-15, most of which I find turned over on my CC. Despite my efforts to turn them over when I spot them I am still loosing what I think is too many. Are they really that clumsey that they turn over that frequently or is it a sign that they were in bad health to start with? Comments appreciated.
Dave

 

[steelchromis]

what happens to mine is that they will fight each other, and the victor will throw out the former resident. Then my emerald crab will "dispose" of the loser.

 

[zibnata]

I didnt think of molt,its possible. Also there are a lot of extra shells laying around and they seem to be changing them alot.I just noticed that 2 emeralds were ripping apart a sand sifting crab,I wonder if it died or they killed it.

 

[joey d]

i thought emerald crabs were peaceful algae eaters !!!
Joe

 

[jillian ayers]

Try laying alot of empty shells of different sizes and shapes around your tank, it may attract the hermits rather than another's shell, though you can never stop a hermit's good fashion sense!