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Coral eating Crabs

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Brandon9400, Apr 25, 2012.

  1. Brandon9400

    Brandon9400

    233
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    So I noticed a couple of my acro colonies weren't looking to good the last couple weeks. All my params were perfect, I run AI's so i knew it wasn't a bulb issue. Then yesterday I noticed a tiny little crab on one of my colonies and figured he was a good acro crab so I left him alone.
    Today I came home and noticed another one on my blue tricolor Valida that has been showing polyp retention and lighter colors recently. I put two and two together and investigated the crabs a little closer and noticed they had a little fuzz on them. That was a dead give away, Oh and the fact a big chunk was missing out of a branch on my purple acro colony and I saw him munching away at the flesh.
    I grabbed the tweezers and after 15 minutes of playing tag with them i finally caught both of them. I put them in my nano angler tank for now so I can study them for a while. I'll try and get some pics sometime but they are small, like half the size of a pencil eraser small. I feel so relieved knowing why my favorite pieces were starting to go down hill on me. I didn't think anything of it at first because I have two little crabs that HH in my pink birds nest colony and have been living there for over a year with no ill effects.
    So if you notice one of your favorite corals starting to slip away on you, keep a close eye out for these little bastards.
     
  2. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    are they fuzzy? Good chance they are teddy bear crabs
     
  3. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    check here

    http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchcrabs.html
     
  4. Brandon9400

    Brandon9400

    233
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    Yeah they have a little fuzz, reddish color and white or light blue eyes.
     
  5. Kpotter2 Expert Reefkeeper

    North liberty, IA
    Ratings:
    +7 / 0 / -0



    http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchcrabs.html
    Yeah and this site mentions that the emerald crab is a danger to a reef tank possibly after some time. I just put two in my frag tank to eat some alga around the tank. Doing ok so far I will have to keep an eye on them.
     

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