Anemone Crabs

[this is me]

Quick question. If I get an anemone crab for my haddoni, where would I put it? On the haddoni or under it? I'm worried the haddoni might eat it if I place the crab right on it(?)

 

[Toddrtrex]

Do NOT place it right on the Haddoni, place it on the rocks and let it find the anemone on its own. If you place it on the anemone the odds are great of it being eaten -- I know of what I speak.

Given time, it will find it and then never leave (( unless clowns force it out )).

 

[this is me]

Thanks Todd! Appreciate it.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Sure thing.

And it can be funny to watch the crab "ride" the anemone as it retracts into the sandbed. Mine did that yesterday when I "spooked" my Haddoni when removing some bubble algae.

 

[Costa reefing]

I made the mistake of placing the crab right on my last haddoni I had. The crab had no chance of making it

 

[this is me]

Thanks guys. So how does the crab hang with the anemone. Does it build a slime coat like clowns?

 

[Toddrtrex]

I think so, mine hasn't left the Haddoni in about a year; even when trying to get a piece of food, will keep one leg touching the anemone.

 

[Costa reefing]

I was reading that some shrimp slightly touch the nem more and more often until they are use the sting and if taken out of the nem need to go through the process again. The acclimation to the nem takes about an hour.

Maybe its the same for crabs?

 

[this is me]

Thanks for the inputs and suggestions guys.
I went out and bought a pair of Porcelain Anemone Crabs. When I put them in the tank near the anemone, they both took refuge under the anemone. After about half an hour or so, the smaller one tested the rim of the anemone and went on the edge of it.
I love the symbiotic relationship. Since my clowns are too busy with their gigantea, the haddoni is unoccupied. The crabs seem to be a perfect match for it.
Here are some pics.

Testing the rim of the haddoni.

Riding on the edge.

The big one is still a little shy.

Actually, when I was trying to post these pictures, RC was down. So I fed the tank and they both came out and try to grab the food. This is awesome!

 

[this is me]

After looking at the last picture, I noticed the bigger crab is missing the other catcher? Will it grow back?

 

[ocellaris123]

After looking at the last picture, I noticed the bigger crab is missing the other catcher? Will it grow back?

It will grow back in a few molts.

 

[ousnakebyte]

I had one of these for a long time and absolutely loved it. Then, I had a H. melanarus wrasse so didn't want to get another one. The melanarus wrasse is now gone, but I have a mystery wrasse.

To make a long story short (too late, I know...), does anyone know if a mystery wrasse will take out my anemone crabs and/or anemone shrimp (Periclimines sp.)?

Cheers
Mike

 

[blownz281]

as far as I know all wrasse will eat shrimp/crabs.

 

[BuckeyeTodd]

Has anyone seen the crab hurt an anemone. I was standing at lfs and saw one with a piece of a rbta in its claw. It quickly went in hiding, I told the guys and they said I was nuts that they have a symbiotic relationship. But, that doesn't change what I saw. He had a chunk of RBTA and the nem was deflated and looking very unhappy...so am I nuts?

 

[blownz281]

Its not unheard of that going on. In the wild It would differ maybe. Anemone might be sick and he is eatiing it or the crab turned on it cause of a lack of food..