Pipeorgan coral and Blue Hermie?

[Darryn Lyon]

It was my understanding that hermit crabs do not eat coral, but it was also my understanding that pipeorgan coral doesn't have an outstanding success rate in capticity. Is it just cleaning it? It's right on top just doing.... stuff. Those missing stalks and polyps were like that when we got the piece, so could it just be cleaning off the dead tissue?

 

[cjd]

I had a frag grow to the size of a soccer ball in about a year and a half when it was small and I still moved it around the tank changing my mind where I wanted to put it , every rock it touched started to grow a new colony. It was kept with a tank full of hermits and they never touched it .

 

[Darryn Lyon]

Hmm interesting

 

[cjd]

Also, remember for pipe organ to grow , even though it is considered a soft coral it builds its tubes out of calcium . So your cal and alk and mag needs to be stable and kept at appropriate reef tank levels.

 

[Tahoe61]

The hermit is just looking for snacks. Pipe organ has a poor long term record because the coral will not tolerate any algae growth on it's skeleton and unfortunately the skeleton is an excellent media for algae growth in most aquariums.

 

[cjd]

That big ball bottom right started out no bigger than your frag.

 

[Devaji]

Wow nice! I have always wanted to try pipe organs coral...