I've got crabs!

Reefer Addict · 03-09-2010, 11:00 PM

Actually my acro does...and just one. This little guy is hilarious; every time I have my hands in the tank cleaning, etc. he waves his claws around to let me know that the coral is his domain and to stay away.

Prototype · 03-09-2010, 11:25 PM

maybe im looking too hard....can someone point him out...i cant find him lol

Reefer Addict · 03-10-2010, 12:18 AM

He's right in the middle...he's white with the black band across the eyes. I believe it's called a Bandit crab.

prugs · 03-10-2010, 06:59 AM

Acro crabs are a good score on any acro. Beware of the fuzzy ones.

Fishdude · 03-10-2010, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prugs

Acro crabs are a good score on any acro. Beware of the fuzzy ones.

Uh Oh whats wrong with the fuzzy ones? I have had a hitchhicker one for about six months now.

prugs · 03-10-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishdude

Uh Oh whats wrong with the fuzzy ones? I have had a hitchhicker one for about six months now.

They are known to be sps coral eaters. As they get larger they can hunt sleeping small fish, snail, hermits.

Notice any loss of tissue around the coral it hangs out by?

Fishdude · 03-14-2010, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prugs

They are known to be sps coral eaters. As they get larger they can hunt sleeping small fish, snail, hermits.

Notice any loss of tissue around the coral it hangs out by?

No I havent seen any loss of corals. My corals are actually exploding with growth.The crab has gotten to be the size of a emeril crab and looks just like one only brown and fuzzy. He hangs out in a cave at the bottom and I never see him on any of the corals days or night.

Reefer Addict · 03-14-2010, 09:41 PM

Not all fuzzy crabs are problematic, but picture to help ID it would be helpful. As Prugs stated, a parasitic crab will damage its coral host by eating the polyps in the area it has set up shop. You may still have good coral growth overall, but the area where the crab lives may have damage.