Emerald crab eating finger leather?

vettemedx · 12/11/2016, 07:27 PM

Just purchased and placed my first coral. It was a beautiful finger leather. I took it home, acclimated it, and placed it in my tank. Water parameters are near perfect. I can't tell if my emerald crab is just cleaning it or bothering/eating it. The coral really closed up and shrunk over the few hours I have it. Someone please help. I'm very new to coral.

bjwoody15 · 12/11/2016, 08:33 PM

If it is an emerald crab it is probably not eating eat, but maybe picking at the rock it's on. Leathers are temperamental and will shrink up and look terrible. Give it a little time.

vettemedx · 12/11/2016, 09:20 PM

thanks for replying....upon closer inspection it looks like he may be eating some algae off the rock its on. Also the hermit and snail have migrated to this coral. Hoping it recovers.

scooter31707 · 12/12/2016, 11:53 AM

Give it a few days to adjust. It's pretty normal for leathers. They will also do the same thing when they are in the process of shedding. Once they shed, they will open back bigger and beautiful.

12/11/2016, 07:27 PM	#1
vettemedx Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 24	Emerald crab eating finger leather? Just purchased and placed my first coral. It was a beautiful finger leather. I took it home, acclimated it, and placed it in my tank. Water parameters are near perfect. I can't tell if my emerald crab is just cleaning it or bothering/eating it. The coral really closed up and shrunk over the few hours I have it. Someone please help. I'm very new to coral.

12/11/2016, 08:33 PM	#2
bjwoody15 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 60	If it is an emerald crab it is probably not eating eat, but maybe picking at the rock it's on. Leathers are temperamental and will shrink up and look terrible. Give it a little time.

12/11/2016, 09:20 PM	#3
vettemedx Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 24	thanks for replying....upon closer inspection it looks like he may be eating some algae off the rock its on. Also the hermit and snail have migrated to this coral. Hoping it recovers.

12/12/2016, 11:53 AM	#4
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	Give it a few days to adjust. It's pretty normal for leathers. They will also do the same thing when they are in the process of shedding. Once they shed, they will open back bigger and beautiful.