Acro crabs

[iap]

I bought an sps coral which had a little crab in it. The lfs said they are cool and harmless and people pay money just to buy them. Well after putting this frag in my tank the crab decided he likes my rose milli better and has been hanging out on it. Well the milli's hair isn't extended like normally was and while watching his little crab he looks like he is picking at the frag and eating. So... Today I got fed up and got the crab out and put him in my sump for now. Do only acro crabs hang out on acros? Or will all crabs at one time or another hang out on acros?

 

[flyyyguy]

if he is smooth(and tiny), most likely he is a commensal crab(friend).

there are many different kinds of good acro/sps crabs, about 4 of which are commonly seen.

got a pic??

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

following the tread as i am intrigued by acro crabs

 

[iap]

I tried to get a pic with the iPhone but just comes out blurry. Wife has the camera outta town. Yea he doesn't seem to be hairy more on the Shelly side. Got white/blue eyes. Black tip claws. One much bigger that the other.

What are pom pom. The lfs said that crab has pom poms and filter feeds.

 

[gar732]

Hopefully someone else can chime in but I was told the black tipped crab were bad. I'd watch him closely.

 

[iap]

Yea that's what I read the black tips were bad. That's why he is in the sump now.

 

[eros]

Does he look anything like the one in the link below? If so he's not harmful. I'm actually trying to get more of these guys.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+4&ddid=88219

 

[The_Uga]

Pom Pom crabs carry little anemone's on their claws as defence with an awsome red/grey pattern on them. If it is a pom pom, you would certainly know it. Its unlikely as these dont tend to live in acro's.

Usual trademarks of an acro eating crab is silver eyes, fuzzy and dark coloured. Acro crabs are usually shiny shelled with bright colours and long slender claws....usually.

 

[iap]

He looks like the crab in the photo minus the color. He is just a brownish tannish color. He does have the silver eyes.

Well I get home last night and look at the tank, what do i see, a crab sittin in my rose milli. I checked the sump which is where I put him, I don't see him but he could very well still be in there amongst the rock and chaeto. Or he somehow got to the pump and got put back in the tank.

I've always seen another little crab similar in shape and color hiding in one rock. I wonder if it is him or the one I bannished. I'll have to check the sump out better today to confirm. Would be odd that they both like the rose milli

 

[Canarygirl]

I would love to have a friendly acro crab. I had some once upon a time, but they died due to interceptor. They are not easy to find....

 

[swanny]

I have several acro friendly crabs in my tank. They have a black stripe across their eyes and are not hairy. They kind of have a light tan coloration. Also, if it is a mimick acro crab they will destroy your acro pretty quick. You will definitely see tissue dying quickly, if polyps are not extending that is probably somewhat normal.

 

[EvilMel]

The acro crabs that I have had either looked exactly like that Pocillopora crab in the picture above or they are the teeny pure white crabs with a black line across the face (between the eyes).

FYI, that's not my picture. I got it off the web.

 

[bigal20874]

Is there any benefit to have a acro crab? or just for fun.

 

[tang0v]

if you have these crabs in your acro..they will clean the sps for you..for example..put some sand on the acro...overnight, the sand will be gone...removed by the crab....