acro crabs

[Kwater]

i just got one on my new large yellow white digitate acropora. i also have one on my yellow cluster acro. i cant find any nfo on them. i would love to know these things.( its the good acro crabs, the kinda pinkish ones.) 1. what is the relationship they share, why dont they just move to another stony coral, why must they live in and on an acro, they never even leave it or go around it. 2. if you have a couple of them on a colony or in a tank will they breed in captivity if you have a male or female, or will they migrate from acro to acro. 3. if an acro is unhealthy or dying will the acro crab migrate away from it or no. 4 any other info u might have. thanx verry much

 

[dcantucson]

I don't know much about these little guys. I think Yote knows quite a bit though.
Some info:

Tiny 'Housekeeper' Crabs Help Prevent Coral Death In South Pacific

 

[yote]

Those little Acro crabs feed on algae and detritus that happens to get trapped on the coral.They'll also eat any parasites that try to infect the colony,and they'll try to defend the colony against bigger predators that would eat the crabs home.

 

[Kwater]

I don't know much about these little guys. I think Yote knows quite a bit though.
Some info:

Tiny 'Housekeeper' Crabs Help Prevent Coral Death In South Pacific

thanks for that artical

 

[dcantucson]

You're welcome Kevin. :)