hitch-hiker

[queenangel77]

I recently found a crab in my tank. It is very small and living in a bonsai coral. I cannot get a picture. It is all white crab with a dark brown stripe going from one cheek to the other parralel across its face. I cannot seem to locate anything online about it. Any ideas? I also would like to know if it is going to harm my corals in any way. Do any crabs harm corals.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Bifferwine]

Hard to say without a pic. There are crabs that kill corals, fish and other inverts. Can you describe what its claws looked like? That's usually a good indication of whether or not it is a predator of scavenger.

 

[queenangel77]

Hard to say without a pic. There are crabs that kill corals, fish and other inverts. Can you describe what its claws looked like? That's usually a good indication of whether or not it is a predator of scavenger.

Of what i can see... It only has a claw on its left side right now. I could pull the coral out of the water for a second and try to pluck him off the coral. Will this hurt anything if i am quick about it? I could probably get a picture of him then. I looked on liveaquaria and couldnt find anything close to him. Is there any other ID sites that i could look?

 

[Bifferwine]

Oh I missed that it was living in the bonsai coral the first time around. If so, it's probably some sort of acro crab, which are crabs that have a mutualism with the coral they live in. The coral provides it with shelter and a home, and in return the crab pics off mucus and detritus from the coral. Google "acro crab" -- there are tons of different kinds and can look different from each other.

 

[Bifferwine]

http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/acrocrab.htm

Is it this guy?

 

[queenangel77]

http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/acrocrab.htm

Is it this guy?

THATS HIM!!! Thanks so much biff!!! is he good, or smash him with a hammer? (not literally)well maybe.

 

[queenangel77]

Nevermind. I read that he is good. Thanks again....and again and again

 

[Bifferwine]

He's good. Read my post above about how he helps the coral and in return the coral helps him. If your coral dies, he won't be able to live. The coral-crab mutalism is an amazing thing, you're really lucky you got such a cool hitch hiker. Most people have to pay extra for a coral that comes with one of those guys.

 

[queenangel77]

He's good. Read my post above about how he helps the coral and in return the coral helps him. If your coral dies, he won't be able to live. The coral-crab mutalism is an amazing thing, you're really lucky you got such a cool hitch hiker. Most people have to pay extra for a coral that comes with one of those guys.

Im very happy as well. I think i might have overpayed for the bonsai coral anyway so this makes it better. I payed 120 but it is very large bonsai i think. here is a picture of it. You know anything about these too? I cant find them online anywhere?