Lttile Crab eat Gobies?

rldcpa · 05/04/2013, 04:48 PM

First let me say that so far my tank has no unwanted critters as I started with no live rock or sand.

I bought some coral last week and dipped it and a few critters came out. However I seemed to have missed a tiny crab that lives in the birdnest coral. I have not seen it leave yet, but I guess it could at night. Also, the birdnest coral is very high on the rock. All my snails and shrimp are fine also.

I am missing 2 gobies and one was fairly large. One goby was moving around a bit trying to find a good area to live in. Both gobies have been in the tank for months and were very healthy.

Now I do not seem them (its been around 2 days). They could be somewhere else but seems unlikely.

I have 2 small clowns that sleep on the sand and they are still there and I have a tiny Court Jester Goby and he is always at sand level and he is fine.

Is it possible the tiny crab could kill a 2-3 inch Goby? Or do I have something else in my tank that the dip did not drive out of the coral?

2 crayfish looking things did come out of 1 piece of coral but they did not make it into the tank.

Any ideas?

Anemone · 05/04/2013, 05:05 PM

No, a birdsnest dwelling crab isn't likely to take out a 2"-3" goby. Many SPS colonies (especially acroporas) come with small crabs living in their branches. These crabs aren't a danger to any fish in our tank.

Kevin

rldcpa · 05/04/2013, 06:21 PM

Update - Found 1 of the 2 Goby's alive. Now hopefully the big on is still alive.

codyreed29 · 05/04/2013, 06:36 PM

I have a goby and he hides about 80 percent of the time living in the caves andunder rocks. Kinda a pain to feed i have to chop up food real small and feed about triple what he eats and i shoot it under the rocks with a baby medicine injector. I usaully wait to spot what rocks hes under or i put food in diffrent spots. Maybe once i get more fish he will come out and eat with the other fish.

rldcpa · 05/10/2013, 06:38 AM

All the Gobies are back....not sure where they were hiding. I guess the crab is harmless as its still small and in the bird nest coral keeping it clean.

Patroklos · 05/10/2013, 06:48 AM

I have had gobies disappear so long I have bought replacements and had them finishing quarrantine and one day he pops back up sitting out in the open on the sand!

I have brought two fish back to the store from quarrantine before because of this, for much less credit than I bought them for unfortunetly.

05/04/2013, 04:48 PM	#1
rldcpa Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 498	Lttile Crab eat Gobies? First let me say that so far my tank has no unwanted critters as I started with no live rock or sand. I bought some coral last week and dipped it and a few critters came out. However I seemed to have missed a tiny crab that lives in the birdnest coral. I have not seen it leave yet, but I guess it could at night. Also, the birdnest coral is very high on the rock. All my snails and shrimp are fine also. I am missing 2 gobies and one was fairly large. One goby was moving around a bit trying to find a good area to live in. Both gobies have been in the tank for months and were very healthy. Now I do not seem them (its been around 2 days). They could be somewhere else but seems unlikely. I have 2 small clowns that sleep on the sand and they are still there and I have a tiny Court Jester Goby and he is always at sand level and he is fine. Is it possible the tiny crab could kill a 2-3 inch Goby? Or do I have something else in my tank that the dip did not drive out of the coral? 2 crayfish looking things did come out of 1 piece of coral but they did not make it into the tank. Any ideas? __________________ 245g 72x30x26, SRO5000 skimmer, WB HY-7000 pump, custom sump 60x24x18, 3 Maxspect Razor 160w LED, Neptune Apex, 4 Tunze 6105, Bubble Magus Doser, 80 watt Emperor UV, 2 800w heaters

05/04/2013, 05:05 PM	#2
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	No, a birdsnest dwelling crab isn't likely to take out a 2"-3" goby. Many SPS colonies (especially acroporas) come with small crabs living in their branches. These crabs aren't a danger to any fish in our tank. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

05/04/2013, 06:21 PM	#3
rldcpa Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 498	Update - Found 1 of the 2 Goby's alive. Now hopefully the big on is still alive. __________________ 245g 72x30x26, SRO5000 skimmer, WB HY-7000 pump, custom sump 60x24x18, 3 Maxspect Razor 160w LED, Neptune Apex, 4 Tunze 6105, Bubble Magus Doser, 80 watt Emperor UV, 2 800w heaters

05/10/2013, 06:38 AM	#5
rldcpa Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 498	All the Gobies are back....not sure where they were hiding. I guess the crab is harmless as its still small and in the bird nest coral keeping it clean. __________________ 245g 72x30x26, SRO5000 skimmer, WB HY-7000 pump, custom sump 60x24x18, 3 Maxspect Razor 160w LED, Neptune Apex, 4 Tunze 6105, Bubble Magus Doser, 80 watt Emperor UV, 2 800w heaters

05/04/2013, 06:36 PM	#4
codyreed29 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 892	I have a goby and he hides about 80 percent of the time living in the caves andunder rocks. Kinda a pain to feed i have to chop up food real small and feed about triple what he eats and i shoot it under the rocks with a baby medicine injector. I usaully wait to spot what rocks hes under or i put food in diffrent spots. Maybe once i get more fish he will come out and eat with the other fish.

05/10/2013, 06:48 AM	#6
Patroklos Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 272	I have had gobies disappear so long I have bought replacements and had them finishing quarrantine and one day he pops back up sitting out in the open on the sand! I have brought two fish back to the store from quarrantine before because of this, for much less credit than I bought them for unfortunetly.