SoggyDollar Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I've lost some hermits in the past, don't know why. Figured they fought eachother. I very recently added a large blue-legged hermit crab (impulse buy). He didn't do much since I released into my DT. He moved about two feet and found a rock to watch closely. Three or four days later ol' blu is dead, pulled out of its shell and eaten. I don't have any big or real aggressive fish: mystery wrasse, small school of lyretail anthias, clown, and a fire shrimp. What could have caused his death? Natural death? The wrasse has been known to eat peppermint shrimp. Could he have done this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+C Lo Slice Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 It happens. My hermits don't last all that long, especially the larger ones. It could be that he was looking for a bigger shell. The rest of your CUC could be the reason he looked eaten; they're just doing their job. Shoot, my yellow tang will even eat hermits and snails that die. Since it was just a hermit, I wouldn't be too worried about it, although it never hurts to test your water just to be safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 If you have hermits and don't put empty shells in for them to upgrade as they grow, they'll turn on each other and steal the shells. This is also why they target your snails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 When they molt they have to leave thier shell so it's also possible it was getting ready to molt and was caught in process and killed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaJohn Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 mystery wrasse + molting hermit = YUMMY YUMMY chicken dinner ! I have also seen mine dive bomb one in his shell grab it and start slamming it into the tank till he got his meal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 A very fat mystery wrasse is the reason hydro innovations has no more snails in his tank, im bet they could eat hermits also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobR Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Its hard to say for sure, but IMO the mystery is definetly a prime suspect, as they have been known to be pretty aggressive fish. And they have also been known to target inverts as their prey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoggyDollar Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 I thought so. I love the Mystery Wrasse. But, every time I seem to be missing something the next morning, he has a fat belly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoggyDollar Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 mystery wrasse + molting hermit = YUMMY YUMMY chicken dinner ! I have also seen mine dive bomb one in his shell grab it and start slamming it into the tank till he got his meal This seems very likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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