Decorator Crab

singold · 02/25/2009, 08:29 PM

Anybody have one of these? Trying to figure out what they like to eat?

clockman · 02/25/2009, 09:07 PM

I've had one for about 6 months. I still don't know what it really eats. It comes out and roams the tank after the lights are out. Must be eating something though as it's grown. Probably fish food that goes uneaten during the day. It's an interesting crab and I can usually spot him with the flashlight after dark.

singold · 02/25/2009, 09:22 PM

How big would you say yours is? Do you have the Sponge Decorator crab? I just got it yesterday. I put it in my 10 gal Coral only tank so I could view it. Research says they are omnivores and scavengers. Very cool & exotic!

vyerous · 02/25/2009, 10:32 PM

Mine (RIP) would eat just about anything, would pick at the sand and rocks every now and again but would eat formula one pellets but especially loved algae tablets. Man he was cool.

SHAKEEL · 02/26/2009, 08:36 AM

I have one in my tank and he is constanly cutting down newly growing soft corals and sticking them to himself im really thinking of kidnapping him and getting my corals back but yeah i see him sifting at the sand and on rocks so he is eating something.

clockman · 02/26/2009, 07:38 PM

Mine is just covered in algae, no sponges but they'll use whatever is available to decorate themselves including soft coral polyps. Mine is about 5" including legs.

Brent RH · 02/26/2009, 07:44 PM

In general they guys should not be kept in reefs though right? Well that wouldn't make sense? Got to have something to decorate yourself with. How are you guys making things work with these guys? What is the min. tank for one?

skippy2 · 02/26/2009, 08:12 PM

I ended up giving mine away.

Brent RH · 02/26/2009, 08:14 PM

We he molt eventually and have to start all over?

02/25/2009, 08:29 PM	#1
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	Decorator Crab Anybody have one of these? Trying to figure out what they like to eat? __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

02/25/2009, 09:07 PM	#2
clockman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 121	I've had one for about 6 months. I still don't know what it really eats. It comes out and roams the tank after the lights are out. Must be eating something though as it's grown. Probably fish food that goes uneaten during the day. It's an interesting crab and I can usually spot him with the flashlight after dark. __________________ The seagrass is always greener in the other tank. Current Tank Info: 90 gal w/ sps and soft corals

02/25/2009, 09:22 PM	#3
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	How big would you say yours is? Do you have the Sponge Decorator crab? I just got it yesterday. I put it in my 10 gal Coral only tank so I could view it. Research says they are omnivores and scavengers. Very cool & exotic! __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

02/26/2009, 08:36 AM	#5
SHAKEEL Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Jacksonville,FL Posts: 187	I have one in my tank and he is constanly cutting down newly growing soft corals and sticking them to himself im really thinking of kidnapping him and getting my corals back but yeah i see him sifting at the sand and on rocks so he is eating something. __________________ Reef Life B***H...Get like me!! Current Tank Info: 375g glass w/90g sump 60g Quarantine

02/26/2009, 07:38 PM	#6
clockman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 121	Mine is just covered in algae, no sponges but they'll use whatever is available to decorate themselves including soft coral polyps. Mine is about 5" including legs. __________________ The seagrass is always greener in the other tank. Current Tank Info: 90 gal w/ sps and soft corals

02/25/2009, 10:32 PM	#4
vyerous Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NoVA Posts: 344	Mine (RIP) would eat just about anything, would pick at the sand and rocks every now and again but would eat formula one pellets but especially loved algae tablets. Man he was cool.

02/26/2009, 07:44 PM	#7
Brent RH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central Minnesota Posts: 311	In general they guys should not be kept in reefs though right? Well that wouldn't make sense? Got to have something to decorate yourself with. How are you guys making things work with these guys? What is the min. tank for one?

02/26/2009, 08:12 PM	#8
skippy2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 3,205	I ended up giving mine away. __________________ Peggy Current Tank Info: no tank

02/26/2009, 08:14 PM	#9
Brent RH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central Minnesota Posts: 311	We he molt eventually and have to start all over?