Weird growth on my Crab

[AmberSunrise]

I got my decorator crab about 3 weeks ago and he had a small patch of what I THINK might be barnacles on his head.

Each week they seem to be growing more and more to where they are almost covering his whole body today they are all over his arms even.

Are they harmful to him?


Day 1


IMG_0040 by sungirlamber, on Flickr

a week later


IMG_0162 by sungirlamber, on Flickr

after 3 weeks


IMG_0065 by sungirlamber, on Flickr

 

[Smitty]

That is cool but crazy at the same time...it does look like barnacles growing on him.

 

[little_fish]

I think that is actually a fast growing tunicate. He should be able to remove them if they are bother him.

 

[SeaBee]

LOL, where's the crab???

 

[Bifferwine]

I think that is actually a fast growing tunicate. He should be able to remove them if they are bother him.

Hannah is right. It's a tunicate, which is similar to a sponge. If you can catch him, you can pick them off! If it bothers him, I don't know why he's not picking it off!

 

[PRC]

It's obvious that he suffers from male pattern baldness and he's a little self-conscious about it. Give the guy a break. It's just a wig.:D

 

[chiqui bb]

Wow! That is crazy! I've been having a bad week and a good laugh is just what I needed. He must not be bothered by them.

 

[little_fish]

They purposefully pick up those kinds of things to camouflage themselves, so i would think he likes the fact they are growing.

 

[d2mini]

Ya, looks like a tunicate on your decorator. Awesome. lol

 

[d.french]

decorator crab, cool crabs but they like to camoflauge themselves with everything even corals.

 

[AmberSunrise]

UPDATE

Carson has trimmed up his bangs "tunicates' around his eyes. I thought he was going emo on me for a while but he looks very grown up now. ahhahaha

I love my decorator he is fun to watch. I dont care that he chops up stuff its nature.