Can Hermits hurt my reef?

[costa510]

I got some these guys are always crawing over my pricey coral's. Can They hurt anything? I have blue legs and red leg one's.

 

[Gonzo]

The ones I know that are reef safe are scarlet hermits and (electric) blue knuckled hermits. I've had both for years and have never seen them touch any of my corals. They do walk around or on top of them sometimes, but never eat the flesh.

However, ask about 100 reefers this same subject and I bet you'll get someone who says scarlet and blue knuckled hermits are not reef safe

 

[Coral reefer]

I have seen many a crab eat snails, not so much hermits eating corals tho

 

[CookieJar]

never had a problem with any hermit.

 

[JAR]

I have the red scarlet.
with no problems.
I had e few blue knuckle ones pick on a clam once so I ditched em.

 

[Gonzo]

JAR: Do you think they were picking on the clam because there wasn't enough left over food from feeding the fish/corals? I sometimes wonder if over-feeding helps eliminate natural tendencies of certain animals...

 

[eldiablosrt8]

my hermit attacked a Nassarus(mispelled) snail for a larger shell but has never attacked my fish or corals... i got rid of all my emarald crabs cuz they picked of my bangaiis one by one

 

[JAR]

I dunno about that. I just don't trust them any more.

 

[costa510]

cool thanks, I will keep a more watchfull eye on them just in case.