Possible crab larvae?

Driftwood · 03/20/2007, 05:09 PM

I was pretty sure these were pods until my wife kept pestering me to look at them. She told me they were fighting and it was pretty funny. They seem territorial and 'box' with each other all the time. I haven't seen pods act this way before, but that's just my observations. They are also devouring hair algae like crazy! I noticed the nano was clean of algae a week or so ago and I put in a few frags that had some hair algae on them, they were clean the next day. I had a blue chalice that I bought off ebay that was receding to hair algae that came growing on it. It has been two days and that is about 70% clean.

I bought a female fiddler crab a few weeks ago. She was playing with eggs when I first got her, but I haven't seen them for a week or two. I have also noticed that she hasn't been moving around as much this last week. She used to love to perch up out of the water on some LR.

I also noticed that they are going through a change. The larger ones have the front set of arms that they box with. The smaller ones do not have these arms.

Here is a picture of three that were on the front glass

Here is a video I took of a few moving around and a short boxing match.
http://www.youtube.com/v/Tns1oclnLXw

If the video isn't ready then check back, it takes youtube awhile to get the videos online sometimes.

What does everyone think? Do I have some fiddler crab larvae or some hair algae eating pods?

Dave

LeslieH · 03/20/2007, 11:54 PM

Those are munnid isopods which are harmless herbivores which are obviously good helpers in your tank. the ones with large front claws are males.

Driftwood · 03/21/2007, 08:10 AM

Neat, thanks for the info! These little buggers are a ton of fun to watch!

I'm off to do some research now.

Dave

03/20/2007, 05:09 PM	#1
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	Possible crab larvae? I was pretty sure these were pods until my wife kept pestering me to look at them. She told me they were fighting and it was pretty funny. They seem territorial and 'box' with each other all the time. I haven't seen pods act this way before, but that's just my observations. They are also devouring hair algae like crazy! I noticed the nano was clean of algae a week or so ago and I put in a few frags that had some hair algae on them, they were clean the next day. I had a blue chalice that I bought off ebay that was receding to hair algae that came growing on it. It has been two days and that is about 70% clean. I bought a female fiddler crab a few weeks ago. She was playing with eggs when I first got her, but I haven't seen them for a week or two. I have also noticed that she hasn't been moving around as much this last week. She used to love to perch up out of the water on some LR. I also noticed that they are going through a change. The larger ones have the front set of arms that they box with. The smaller ones do not have these arms. Here is a picture of three that were on the front glass Here is a video I took of a few moving around and a short boxing match. http://www.youtube.com/v/Tns1oclnLXw If the video isn't ready then check back, it takes youtube awhile to get the videos online sometimes. What does everyone think? Do I have some fiddler crab larvae or some hair algae eating pods? Dave Last edited by Driftwood; 03/20/2007 at 05:18 PM.

03/20/2007, 11:54 PM	#2
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	Those are munnid isopods which are harmless herbivores which are obviously good helpers in your tank. the ones with large front claws are males. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

03/21/2007, 08:10 AM	#3
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	Neat, thanks for the info! These little buggers are a ton of fun to watch! I'm off to do some research now. Dave