Crab ID?

sufunk · 03/10/2007, 06:36 PM

I got an acro r*** today and found 2 of these crabs. 1 i caught, the other was too far into the frag and is still there. They are small(smaller than a dime, reddish orange, and their right claws are much bigger than the left.

Any ID for him? What should i do, put this one back on the frag in the display, put in fuge, or get rid of altogether???

Thanks for the help

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LeslieH · 03/10/2007, 06:45 PM

Put them back on the frag if you want it to stay healthy & grow fast. They're a Trapezia species. These are obligate symbionts of corals. They feed primarily on the mucus secreted by the corals and may eat small amounts of tissue as well. Despite any tissue loss, corals hosting crabs have been shown to grown faster & be healthier than corals without them. That's because the crabs keep particulates from settling on the corals & inhibiting growth. They're also active defenders, immediately rushing over to attack predatory starfish like crown of thorns or butterfly fish.

sufunk · 03/10/2007, 06:47 PM

Cool, thank you!

Now that i look, there may actually be a total of 3 on this frag!

Paintbug · 03/10/2007, 06:51 PM

lucky you!!!

sufunk · 03/10/2007, 07:08 PM

Heres a pic of the frag. The 1st one has "crabs"

The 2nd one doesnt but i also got it today.
Positive ID help on the frags anyone?

sufunk · 03/13/2007, 11:26 AM

Just a little update, last night right before the lights went out, i looked around the tank and saw a peppermint shrimp struggling with something. A close look showed he was carrying off one of the crabs. I grabbed a baster and tried to scare him off but he darted behind the rocks with the crab!! 1 hour later, he came out still picking at about the 30% that was left of the crab

I got the last part of the crab away but now only have 1 crab left in the acro. Needless to say, i caught half of my peppermints last night and the 2nd half go BYEBYE tonight!

03/10/2007, 06:36 PM	#1
sufunk Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Davie, Florida Posts: 2,004	Crab ID? I got an acro r*** today and found 2 of these crabs. 1 i caught, the other was too far into the frag and is still there. They are small(smaller than a dime, reddish orange, and their right claws are much bigger than the left. Any ID for him? What should i do, put this one back on the frag in the display, put in fuge, or get rid of altogether??? Thanks for the help

03/10/2007, 06:45 PM	#2
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	Put them back on the frag if you want it to stay healthy & grow fast. They're a Trapezia species. These are obligate symbionts of corals. They feed primarily on the mucus secreted by the corals and may eat small amounts of tissue as well. Despite any tissue loss, corals hosting crabs have been shown to grown faster & be healthier than corals without them. That's because the crabs keep particulates from settling on the corals & inhibiting growth. They're also active defenders, immediately rushing over to attack predatory starfish like crown of thorns or butterfly fish. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

03/10/2007, 06:51 PM	#4
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	lucky you!!! __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

03/10/2007, 06:47 PM	#3
sufunk Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Davie, Florida Posts: 2,004	Cool, thank you! Now that i look, there may actually be a total of 3 on this frag!

03/10/2007, 07:08 PM	#5
sufunk Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Davie, Florida Posts: 2,004	Heres a pic of the frag. The 1st one has "crabs" The 2nd one doesnt but i also got it today. Positive ID help on the frags anyone?

03/13/2007, 11:26 AM	#6
sufunk Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Davie, Florida Posts: 2,004	Just a little update, last night right before the lights went out, i looked around the tank and saw a peppermint shrimp struggling with something. A close look showed he was carrying off one of the crabs. I grabbed a baster and tried to scare him off but he darted behind the rocks with the crab!! 1 hour later, he came out still picking at about the 30% that was left of the crab I got the last part of the crab away but now only have 1 crab left in the acro. Needless to say, i caught half of my peppermints last night and the 2nd half go BYEBYE tonight!