I've got crabs....is that bad?

mxett · 09/24/2007, 09:50 PM

After reading a thread on catching fish and rogue crabs it got me thinking. I know I have atleast a crab in every piece of acro and polcilipora in my tank, and atleast 2 others I have seen.

Are they a nuisance, enough to issue a warrant for their immediate arrest and deportation?

So far I havent noticed any of their behaviour to be destructive. Am I kidding myself? Should I detain them immediately?

BangkokMatt · 09/24/2007, 09:53 PM

If they are in your acro etc they will likely just live in there therefore causing little cause for concern.

derrikd · 09/24/2007, 09:57 PM

what color are they? were they hitch hikers or did you buy them?

mxett · 09/24/2007, 10:12 PM

they were all hitchhikers and they are fairly drab colours, except for the pink one in the pink polcillipora.

IslandCrow · 09/24/2007, 10:48 PM

They're probably just acro crabs, which are harmless. For that matter, some people say they're actually beneficial to the coral. Most acro crabs you see are the bandit acro crabs. They're generally all white or some other light color with a solid black band across their eyes (a lot like a bandit's mask). I'd just keep an eye on said coral and if it's showing signs of stress around the area where the crab spends most of its time, remove the crab. I had one awhile back in my Pocillopora that was causing some damage (or it appeared that way, anyway). I think it was in fact an acro crab, but I removed it, and the damage stopped, so I'd guess it was in fact the crab.

Oh, if the crab is hairy or has black tipped claws, I believe most of them are problematic. . .or so I've been told.

nlmotoring · 09/24/2007, 11:05 PM

From what I have seen they shouldn't be much of a pest. I had a friend who had some similar crabs and they didn't hurt anything. If you start to itch also, then you got a problem

aquarius77 · 09/25/2007, 01:03 AM

I want crabs.

I had to dose interceptor and i removed all the acro crabs and put them into my acro-less softie tank, they all died within a few weeks. I think they need the acro to survive and are benefical to the coral. If its causing dammage its most likely not a good crab to have. The pink one as far as i know, is a legit acro crab. Mine was.
I have removed a hairy crab from a millepora, he looked evil on first sight.

uscharalph · 09/25/2007, 01:16 AM

I have a hitch hiker crab. He's a dark green crab. I've never seen him bother any corals of livestock. He seems to just eat algae off of rocks. I think I also might have a very small hitch hiker mantis shrimp. I've only seen a littl of him one night, but I'm not sure.

mxett · 09/25/2007, 01:19 AM

Thanks guys, and no I'm not itching, but i do have this oozing sore.......no not really.

MikePowell · 09/25/2007, 07:38 AM

gross.

Boca Kris · 09/25/2007, 02:55 PM

That green crab could be an emerald crab, if hes munching on algae..usually good to have

AMIFL · 09/26/2007, 10:59 AM

You might want to ask the person who gave you crabs. j/k

09/24/2007, 09:50 PM	#1
mxett Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 384	I've got crabs....is that bad? After reading a thread on catching fish and rogue crabs it got me thinking. I know I have atleast a crab in every piece of acro and polcilipora in my tank, and atleast 2 others I have seen. Are they a nuisance, enough to issue a warrant for their immediate arrest and deportation? So far I havent noticed any of their behaviour to be destructive. Am I kidding myself? Should I detain them immediately?

09/24/2007, 09:53 PM	#2
BangkokMatt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Krung Thep Posts: 3,100	If they are in your acro etc they will likely just live in there therefore causing little cause for concern. __________________ I've spent a lot of money on booze, women and fish. The rest I just squandered. Current Tank Info: 150g sps Reef (now FOWLR after a devastating crash due to chiller) , 2x400w MH (Icecap ballast, Lumenmax 2, Reeflux 12k SE), Deltec AP701, Grotech Tec III, Chiller, 2 x Tunze 6101, 1 x 6205 (+ m/c), bla bla

09/24/2007, 10:48 PM	#5
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	They're probably just acro crabs, which are harmless. For that matter, some people say they're actually beneficial to the coral. Most acro crabs you see are the bandit acro crabs. They're generally all white or some other light color with a solid black band across their eyes (a lot like a bandit's mask). I'd just keep an eye on said coral and if it's showing signs of stress around the area where the crab spends most of its time, remove the crab. I had one awhile back in my Pocillopora that was causing some damage (or it appeared that way, anyway). I think it was in fact an acro crab, but I removed it, and the damage stopped, so I'd guess it was in fact the crab. Oh, if the crab is hairy or has black tipped claws, I believe most of them are problematic. . .or so I've been told. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

09/24/2007, 11:05 PM	#6
nlmotoring Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northridge, California Posts: 57	From what I have seen they shouldn't be much of a pest. I had a friend who had some similar crabs and they didn't hurt anything. If you start to itch also, then you got a problem __________________ Tank: Glass 80g Tall w/ Black stand and Canopy, 2x175w & 36w of Actinic lighting Fish: Damsels, tang, urchant Corals: Zoo's, Mushrooms, Ricordia's, hammers, frogspawn Current Tank Info: Tank: Glass 80g Tall w/ Black stand and Canopy

09/25/2007, 01:16 AM	#8
uscharalph Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,248	I have a hitch hiker crab. He's a dark green crab. I've never seen him bother any corals of livestock. He seems to just eat algae off of rocks. I think I also might have a very small hitch hiker mantis shrimp. I've only seen a littl of him one night, but I'm not sure. __________________ Ralph Mendoza Jr. Long Beach, CA Current Tank Info: 80 Gallon Reef Tank

09/24/2007, 09:57 PM	#3
derrikd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New Braunfels, Texas Posts: 3,356	what color are they? were they hitch hikers or did you buy them?

09/24/2007, 10:12 PM	#4
mxett Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 384	they were all hitchhikers and they are fairly drab colours, except for the pink one in the pink polcillipora.

09/25/2007, 01:03 AM	#7
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	I want crabs. I had to dose interceptor and i removed all the acro crabs and put them into my acro-less softie tank, they all died within a few weeks. I think they need the acro to survive and are benefical to the coral. If its causing dammage its most likely not a good crab to have. The pink one as far as i know, is a legit acro crab. Mine was. I have removed a hairy crab from a millepora, he looked evil on first sight.

09/25/2007, 01:19 AM	#9
mxett Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 384	Thanks guys, and no I'm not itching, but i do have this oozing sore.......no not really.

09/25/2007, 07:38 AM	#10
MikePowell Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 1,141	gross.

09/25/2007, 02:55 PM	#11
Boca Kris Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Boca Raton, Florida Posts: 401	That green crab could be an emerald crab, if hes munching on algae..usually good to have

09/26/2007, 10:59 AM	#12
AMIFL Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: FL Posts: 359	You might want to ask the person who gave you crabs. j/k