Crab in Bird's nest??? Good or Bad?

scottwhitson · 05/21/2007, 07:22 PM

Hello all,

I just purchased a bird's nest from our LFS and noticed that there is a crab living in it (I haven't put the frag into the tank yet). The crab is red with white circles all over his body. I can't get a good look at his pinchers but am concerned if this could be an evil killing crab? Anyone have any ideas I am off to check Melevs site for an ID as well but anyone with info please help!!

davefan13 · 05/21/2007, 07:30 PM

if you see him picking at the coral, you should remove him. If not, and you want to keep him, you could just keep a close eye on him, but remember it will be hard to remove after getting it into your tank.

scottwhitson · 05/21/2007, 07:44 PM

Yeah if he ever got off of the coral he would be about impossible to get out of the tank maybe I will try to get him off and put him in the sump.

scottwhitson · 05/21/2007, 07:45 PM

I think that this is the beast any one have any experiences??

http://www.stephenwong.com/gallery/C...a_rufopunctata

steve the plumb · 05/21/2007, 07:49 PM

you can try the sps forum someone there might help you

dpearly88 · 05/21/2007, 07:54 PM

I have a red and blue crab that looks much like the one shown on your link. It moves about the three colonies of Pocillopora that I have in my tank. All parties evolved seem happy. I wouldn't worry about it.

rssjsb · 05/21/2007, 08:15 PM

Better yet, post in the invert forum. I bet Leslie can tell you what it is. If it's a commensal crab, you may kill it if you take it off the coral it's living in.

AquaReeferMan · 05/21/2007, 09:28 PM

IME the crabs that are smooth and not hairy do more good than bad in SPS. If it is hairy and dark in color remove it.

saltkreep · 05/21/2007, 09:54 PM

I had 3 or 4 in a large pocillopora colony for years! No problems. They never left the colony. they do like brine shrimp

Randall_James · 05/21/2007, 10:02 PM

just do a google search on Commensal crabs, neat hitchikers and can be left alone

scottwhitson · 05/21/2007, 10:26 PM

Thanks for the info I am going to try him out. The LFS has had that frag in their tank for about 2 months and he has never left that coral so hope for the best. Someone in the SPS forum said that it was probably a Commensal crab as well. Thanks again for the info.

LeslieH · 05/22/2007, 12:39 AM

If it's really Trapezia rufopunctata you lucked out. As people have suggested it's one of the beneficial commensal coral crabs. These keep their host corals clean of silt & debris & defend them from would-be predators. Some filter feed, eat coral mucus, and perhaps some flesh from coral as well but the amount lost is minimal in comparison to the increased growth the corals experience.

davocean · 05/22/2007, 09:14 AM

I wonder how many people actually looked at your pic.
Usually it's either the typical smooth commensal(great to have) or the hairy one(bad guy)
I have never seen yours b4
Looks really cool, hope it's beneficial, and other than really unusual color it does have the look of commensal.
That could be a real nice score.

saltkreep · 05/28/2007, 06:09 AM

It just depends! I had an emerald crab destroy an sps colony.

Icefire · 05/28/2007, 06:18 AM

Probably some kind of "acro crab"

05/21/2007, 07:22 PM	#1
scottwhitson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lewiston, Idaho Posts: 1,395	Crab in Bird's nest??? Good or Bad? Hello all, I just purchased a bird's nest from our LFS and noticed that there is a crab living in it (I haven't put the frag into the tank yet). The crab is red with white circles all over his body. I can't get a good look at his pinchers but am concerned if this could be an evil killing crab? Anyone have any ideas I am off to check Melevs site for an ID as well but anyone with info please help!!

05/21/2007, 07:30 PM	#2
davefan13 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 192	if you see him picking at the coral, you should remove him. If not, and you want to keep him, you could just keep a close eye on him, but remember it will be hard to remove after getting it into your tank. __________________ Seize the Moment Current Tank Info: 29G Freshwater Community

05/21/2007, 08:15 PM	#7
rssjsb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,243	Better yet, post in the invert forum. I bet Leslie can tell you what it is. If it's a commensal crab, you may kill it if you take it off the coral it's living in. __________________ Robin

05/21/2007, 09:28 PM	#8
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	IME the crabs that are smooth and not hairy do more good than bad in SPS. If it is hairy and dark in color remove it. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

05/21/2007, 10:02 PM	#10
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	just do a google search on Commensal crabs, neat hitchikers and can be left alone __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

05/21/2007, 07:44 PM	#3
scottwhitson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lewiston, Idaho Posts: 1,395	Yeah if he ever got off of the coral he would be about impossible to get out of the tank maybe I will try to get him off and put him in the sump.

05/21/2007, 07:45 PM	#4
scottwhitson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lewiston, Idaho Posts: 1,395	I think that this is the beast any one have any experiences?? http://www.stephenwong.com/gallery/C...a_rufopunctata

05/21/2007, 07:49 PM	#5
steve the plumb Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 3,664	you can try the sps forum someone there might help you

05/21/2007, 07:54 PM	#6
dpearly88 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 159	I have a red and blue crab that looks much like the one shown on your link. It moves about the three colonies of Pocillopora that I have in my tank. All parties evolved seem happy. I wouldn't worry about it.

05/21/2007, 09:54 PM	#9
saltkreep Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville ca Posts: 199	I had 3 or 4 in a large pocillopora colony for years! No problems. They never left the colony. they do like brine shrimp

05/21/2007, 10:26 PM	#11
scottwhitson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lewiston, Idaho Posts: 1,395	Thanks for the info I am going to try him out. The LFS has had that frag in their tank for about 2 months and he has never left that coral so hope for the best. Someone in the SPS forum said that it was probably a Commensal crab as well. Thanks again for the info.

05/22/2007, 12:39 AM	#12
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	If it's really Trapezia rufopunctata you lucked out. As people have suggested it's one of the beneficial commensal coral crabs. These keep their host corals clean of silt & debris & defend them from would-be predators. Some filter feed, eat coral mucus, and perhaps some flesh from coral as well but the amount lost is minimal in comparison to the increased growth the corals experience. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

05/22/2007, 09:14 AM	#13
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I wonder how many people actually looked at your pic. Usually it's either the typical smooth commensal(great to have) or the hairy one(bad guy) I have never seen yours b4 Looks really cool, hope it's beneficial, and other than really unusual color it does have the look of commensal. That could be a real nice score. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

05/28/2007, 06:09 AM	#14
saltkreep Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville ca Posts: 199	It just depends! I had an emerald crab destroy an sps colony.

05/28/2007, 06:18 AM	#15
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	Probably some kind of "acro crab" __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI