Acro eating crab (what triggered this)

Geodriller · 02/01/2009, 01:38 PM

Did not know where to post a question like this, so I posted it here seeing as there is always a few expierienced reefers here. I have had quite a few SPS colonies with crabs in them living in harmony for some time. A couple of months ago I got a blue Acro sp. with a very small crab in it. Always liked this combo, very fun to watch. What was not fun to watch is this morning I noticed the neighbor Acro colony to the blue-tip was very upset (no polyps exposed). I thought this was very unusual as it is always happy. It has been in my tank for about two years. I also noticed one of the best bright green growth tips had a giant chunk out of it. After observing this piece all morning I noticed the crab had jumped colonies and is now going stalk to stalk pulling out the polyps and eating them plain as day. Needless to say as soon as I can catch him he will be destroyed (hate to do it but NOBODY messes with my Acros!!!) Any thoughts on what triggered this. The only thing I can come up with is I have not feed my tank in about four days. Do not feed that often (only one fish in the tank right now ((75gal. tank with Striated Tang)) and believe you me there is enough algae for him). needless to say I have some Emerald Entree melting right now with some Cyclops. Also I feed DT's once a week, ChromaMax every other day, and put a little KM Micro-Vert in every now and again 20-30min. before I target feed my Frogspawn and plate coral. This should be sufficiant enough for the crab....no? Just went and looked again to see if the crab came out enough to try to catch again, and the coral is nearly devistated. Never seen the polyps so empty looking. Giant craters where the polyps used to be. How much can this little guy eat?

Definatly going to stab this little butt-hole!!! I have lost all confidence in SPS crabs now. Any feed back would be great. PS would an Iodine dip kill the crab? soon as I take the coral out to catch him he crawls in this little hole where I can not reach him. What do I do?

Shmax · 02/01/2009, 01:48 PM

I've had good success with very short FW dips getting ANY unwanted invert out of a rock/coral. It usually only takes 10-15 seconds for them to come cruising out of hiding, and that's not nearly enough time to harm the corals. Within 30 seconds or so, starfish, crabs, even pods will bail from their hiding places tying to escape the FW.

Geodriller · 02/01/2009, 01:53 PM

Excelent. Do not know why I did not think of that? Thank you for your speedy reply Shmax. My Acro thanks you aswell.

Geodriller · 02/01/2009, 02:19 PM

Just dipped the coral and alot of thing ran out, but not the crab. What is this thing a super-crab? How many fresh water dips can this coral handle in a day and what is too long for it to sit in the same temp freshwater?

Geodriller · 02/01/2009, 02:25 PM

Just put acro back in DT after 1st 45sec. dip (kept telling myself 1more second and out he'll come...finally had to call it at 45sec.) The coral is slimming profuselly (spelling?). I do not know what to do? If I keep doing this I will kill the coral....If I let it go, the crab will kill the coral.

Shmax · 02/01/2009, 02:27 PM

Wow, you have a tough guy on your hands there. I wouldn't dip again today, just keep an eye on it today. If you're sure he's in there tomorrow, you may try and QT that acro and draw him out with some food. I'm really surprised he didn't come out for the FW dip, I've never seen one hang in there for that.

Toddrtrex · 02/01/2009, 02:32 PM

How big is the colony that it is in? Years ago I had a couple of crabs in a milli -- and not the good crabs. I took the colony out of the tank, set it on the counter and with a pair of tweezers picked them out. The colony was out of the tank for about 5 minutes -- besides slimming for a bit it was fine.

cdbias2 · 02/01/2009, 03:01 PM

I'm a little confused.
Is there any such thing as a "GOOD" Acro crab?

Toddrtrex · 02/01/2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cdbias2
I'm a little confused.
Is there any such thing as a "GOOD" Acro crab?

Yes there is -- they are called commensal acro crabs. I have at least 4 of them in my tanks.

cdbias2 · 02/01/2009, 03:07 PM

I love learning something!

Toddrtrex · 02/01/2009, 03:13 PM

I saw something on one of the Discovery channels --- they showed a star (( think it was a Crown of thorns )) staring to eat a colony --- a couple of the crabs that were living in there started to attack it -- eating is tube feet --- until it left.

Here are one of my little guys.

Geodriller · 02/01/2009, 03:43 PM

The colony is not that big. Problem is that when I fragged this coral I set it in one of those saucer type things that you see alot of LPS frags get put into. It is about 4'' in diamiter and is shaped like an upside down frizbee. The frag started growing out and left a hollow part underneath where the crab keeps running into . I have tried jabbing and poking to stab and kill him, but all I have managed is to break off one of his legs. I'm telling you he has a very good hiding spot. I will leave the coral alone for the rest of the day but if he is still in there tommorrow I will bend a thin piece of wire to try to get it in his hole and hopefully shank his *** to death. I would rather try to get him out with the dip as the coral is already very upset and missing about half of his polyps. Again how long can I leave the coral in the fresh water? I did notice towards the end of the dip the crab was starting to come out and that is when I got one of his legs, but the coral was already in there so long I decided it was better to put it back in the tank and try again later. Maybe if I can leave it in ther a little longer it would work. This is upseting me very much as this was my very first SPS and has gone through alot of problems (no thanks to me and my lack of knowledge back in the day), but I have always seemed to somehow bring it back and has been doing well for some time now. Also I have some KM Tech-D, made specificaly for Iodine dips. Do you think that would kill or at least help coax the crab out. I would feel better about that dip becouse it can be done with tank water and can stay in the solution for much longer. Thanks again with all of yous guyses help. Also any ideas on what initiated this strike? Is it possible it was trying to protect its colony from invasion. They are both Acro and there is about 4'' between them. I dont believe they will attack eachother but maybe he thought it was to close?

Geodriller · 02/01/2009, 03:51 PM

Beutiful pic Toddrtrex. I had one of those in my Bali Green Slimmer Acro. Lived in harmony for 2 years until it molted and got picked off by my sixline who needless to say was removed beacouse he was a bully. He would even pick on my Tomatoe who was 3 times his size. Endless confrontation has left me with no choice. I now (for the time being) have one fish in my tank. Striated Tang. Man that guy can eat. He sure can poop too. Soon I will be getting a pair of False Percs from my buddy who is tearing down his tank for a remodel. Ihave watched these clowns for a year and are as friendly as fish come. It sure is sad that a tang, 1small clown, and a wrasse cannot get along in a75.

Geodriller · 02/01/2009, 04:05 PM

Update: About 2 hours after dip. The coral looks absolutely horrid. Still slimming and has spots all over where it has lost color. Crab is still in there. Between the Bears not making it to playoffs, I owe the gov. 9 dollars for my non exitent tax return ( thanx to repeted mistake on the office ladies part) and this I am about ready to off myself.....but then who would take care of my corals? Not to mention my Great Dane and German Shorthair.

02/01/2009, 01:38 PM	#1
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	Acro eating crab (what triggered this) Did not know where to post a question like this, so I posted it here seeing as there is always a few expierienced reefers here. I have had quite a few SPS colonies with crabs in them living in harmony for some time. A couple of months ago I got a blue Acro sp. with a very small crab in it. Always liked this combo, very fun to watch. What was not fun to watch is this morning I noticed the neighbor Acro colony to the blue-tip was very upset (no polyps exposed). I thought this was very unusual as it is always happy. It has been in my tank for about two years. I also noticed one of the best bright green growth tips had a giant chunk out of it. After observing this piece all morning I noticed the crab had jumped colonies and is now going stalk to stalk pulling out the polyps and eating them plain as day. Needless to say as soon as I can catch him he will be destroyed (hate to do it but NOBODY messes with my Acros!!!) Any thoughts on what triggered this. The only thing I can come up with is I have not feed my tank in about four days. Do not feed that often (only one fish in the tank right now ((75gal. tank with Striated Tang)) and believe you me there is enough algae for him). needless to say I have some Emerald Entree melting right now with some Cyclops. Also I feed DT's once a week, ChromaMax every other day, and put a little KM Micro-Vert in every now and again 20-30min. before I target feed my Frogspawn and plate coral. This should be sufficiant enough for the crab....no? Just went and looked again to see if the crab came out enough to try to catch again, and the coral is nearly devistated. Never seen the polyps so empty looking. Giant craters where the polyps used to be. How much can this little guy eat? Definatly going to stab this little butt-hole!!! I have lost all confidence in SPS crabs now. Any feed back would be great. PS would an Iodine dip kill the crab? soon as I take the coral out to catch him he crawls in this little hole where I can not reach him. What do I do?

02/01/2009, 02:32 PM	#7
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	How big is the colony that it is in? Years ago I had a couple of crabs in a milli -- and not the good crabs. I took the colony out of the tank, set it on the counter and with a pair of tweezers picked them out. The colony was out of the tank for about 5 minutes -- besides slimming for a bit it was fine. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

02/01/2009, 03:13 PM	#11
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I saw something on one of the Discovery channels --- they showed a star (( think it was a Crown of thorns )) staring to eat a colony --- a couple of the crabs that were living in there started to attack it -- eating is tube feet --- until it left. Here are one of my little guys. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

02/01/2009, 01:48 PM	#2
Shmax Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 596	I've had good success with very short FW dips getting ANY unwanted invert out of a rock/coral. It usually only takes 10-15 seconds for them to come cruising out of hiding, and that's not nearly enough time to harm the corals. Within 30 seconds or so, starfish, crabs, even pods will bail from their hiding places tying to escape the FW.

02/01/2009, 01:53 PM	#3
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	Excelent. Do not know why I did not think of that? Thank you for your speedy reply Shmax. My Acro thanks you aswell.

02/01/2009, 02:19 PM	#4
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	Just dipped the coral and alot of thing ran out, but not the crab. What is this thing a super-crab? How many fresh water dips can this coral handle in a day and what is too long for it to sit in the same temp freshwater?

02/01/2009, 02:25 PM	#5
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	Just put acro back in DT after 1st 45sec. dip (kept telling myself 1more second and out he'll come...finally had to call it at 45sec.) The coral is slimming profuselly (spelling?). I do not know what to do? If I keep doing this I will kill the coral....If I let it go, the crab will kill the coral.

02/01/2009, 02:27 PM	#6
Shmax Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 596	Wow, you have a tough guy on your hands there. I wouldn't dip again today, just keep an eye on it today. If you're sure he's in there tomorrow, you may try and QT that acro and draw him out with some food. I'm really surprised he didn't come out for the FW dip, I've never seen one hang in there for that.

02/01/2009, 03:01 PM	#8
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	I'm a little confused. Is there any such thing as a "GOOD" Acro crab?

02/01/2009, 03:07 PM	#10
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	I love learning something!

02/01/2009, 03:43 PM	#12
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	The colony is not that big. Problem is that when I fragged this coral I set it in one of those saucer type things that you see alot of LPS frags get put into. It is about 4'' in diamiter and is shaped like an upside down frizbee. The frag started growing out and left a hollow part underneath where the crab keeps running into . I have tried jabbing and poking to stab and kill him, but all I have managed is to break off one of his legs. I'm telling you he has a very good hiding spot. I will leave the coral alone for the rest of the day but if he is still in there tommorrow I will bend a thin piece of wire to try to get it in his hole and hopefully shank his *** to death. I would rather try to get him out with the dip as the coral is already very upset and missing about half of his polyps. Again how long can I leave the coral in the fresh water? I did notice towards the end of the dip the crab was starting to come out and that is when I got one of his legs, but the coral was already in there so long I decided it was better to put it back in the tank and try again later. Maybe if I can leave it in ther a little longer it would work. This is upseting me very much as this was my very first SPS and has gone through alot of problems (no thanks to me and my lack of knowledge back in the day), but I have always seemed to somehow bring it back and has been doing well for some time now. Also I have some KM Tech-D, made specificaly for Iodine dips. Do you think that would kill or at least help coax the crab out. I would feel better about that dip becouse it can be done with tank water and can stay in the solution for much longer. Thanks again with all of yous guyses help. Also any ideas on what initiated this strike? Is it possible it was trying to protect its colony from invasion. They are both Acro and there is about 4'' between them. I dont believe they will attack eachother but maybe he thought it was to close?

02/01/2009, 03:51 PM	#13
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	Beutiful pic Toddrtrex. I had one of those in my Bali Green Slimmer Acro. Lived in harmony for 2 years until it molted and got picked off by my sixline who needless to say was removed beacouse he was a bully. He would even pick on my Tomatoe who was 3 times his size. Endless confrontation has left me with no choice. I now (for the time being) have one fish in my tank. Striated Tang. Man that guy can eat. He sure can poop too. Soon I will be getting a pair of False Percs from my buddy who is tearing down his tank for a remodel. Ihave watched these clowns for a year and are as friendly as fish come. It sure is sad that a tang, 1small clown, and a wrasse cannot get along in a75.

02/01/2009, 04:05 PM	#14
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	Update: About 2 hours after dip. The coral looks absolutely horrid. Still slimming and has spots all over where it has lost color. Crab is still in there. Between the Bears not making it to playoffs, I owe the gov. 9 dollars for my non exitent tax return ( thanx to repeted mistake on the office ladies part) and this I am about ready to off myself.....but then who would take care of my corals? Not to mention my Great Dane and German Shorthair.