Closed Buttons

[Flatfish]

I have this small field of zoanthids about three inches square. Brown buttons with pinkish centers. One morning I found one of my larger Red-Legged Hermits sitting in the middle of the field munching. I don’t think the hermit was really interested in the buttons, but all of the buttons were slammed shut. It’s been a couple of days now and only a couple of the buttons have reopened. My field looks like a wasteland of nubs. Do you think the hermit really PO’ed them? Do these things crash? I can’t find anything else wrong with the system and the tanks mates are OK. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Maybe I worry too much?

Joe

[dark horge]

Hi,

Just because you saw that crab ONCE doesn't mean it hasn't made a regular habit of traipsing all over your polyp bed, especially when you're not around.

The same logic applies to any assumption that the crab ISN'T chowing on polyps. You might simply have missed catching the crab in the act. You can maybe check very, very, very closely for signs of injury: missing polyps and so on.

For so long as there is a source of irritation around, polyps will likely be shy. Everything from an abrupt shift in water chemistry (from an aggressive water change or even contamination), a shift in temp, some physical irritation or predation --you will have to verify just what it is.


Good luck,

horge

[FLHT]

If your button polyps still don't open I'd check your water
condition. When my polyps don't open I know something
is not right in the tank. Good luck.