Emerald crab problem.

[tanker99]

Has anyone had any problems with an emerald crab or an peppermint shrimp eating your coral? I have a 15 gal and been noticing some of my yellow polyps are missing more and more heads every day

 

[jasongreska]

any fish in there? all herbivores if hungry enough will pick at stuff. my sailfin tang ate all my yellow zoas.

 

[tanker99]

Yeah I got some fish...this didn't start until I started to feed my 3 times a week. I think I might spot feed him once in a while see if that will help. I dunno what to do my wife loves the lil guy lol

 

[AquaRick]

I've had emeralds nip at and kill sleeping\resting fish. I've never seen them go after corals though.

 

[tanker99]

Hmm ok I see. What about peppermint shrimp? I got one in my tank and I've seen him take food from the yellow polyps. Do you think he's killing them?

 

[jasongreska]

I doubt it. unless just his actions are disturbing them enough. My hermits climb all over my blue zoas and it takes them like a week to open back up again. Watch your herbivores carefully if you have any. Oh, yeah, what kind of fish do you have?

 

[tanker99]

Ohh ok. I got two clowns, scooter blenny, firefish and a yellow goby. Since I've posted this thread I've place the yellow polyps higher on the live rock and been noticing they are doing a lot better.

 

[jasongreska]

yeah, once my foxface and sailfin started on my zoas, my lawnmower finished it off. Ironically, I started feeding them less sseaweed and the problem stopped. I guess they were spoiled.

 

[jasongreska]

of course it could have been die off from improper placement too. If it likes it at the top, go with it.

 

[tanker99]

Yeah I get what your saying. My fish are the same. I recently just started to feed them less due to overfeeding them. But we will see how they do in a week or two. Thanks for the advice!!