anyone got a clue
- Thread starter bigsteelfan
- Start date
Masterderrull
Member
not me...looks cool though!
I got a Raging clue....lol
Maybe a small porcelain crab?
Maybe a small porcelain crab?
cloakerpoked
New member
I agree with Sirius, although from the pic it is difficult to know for sure what it is. Porcelain (Anemone) crabs are reef cafe and actually quite fun to watch. Does he have two fan like appendages that he brings regularly back to his mouth?
LeviChar1
New member
This looks EXACTLY like an acropora crab I used to have. (Mine was purple like my acro, but changed color ....When his host died (and it was not him, its a symbiotic relationship), he moved on to a hydnophora I had. If you have a cheap acro, pluck the crab and stick him in it to see if he likes it. I bet this one is just looking for stingy shelter. I think the crab eats mites and acro bugs in addition to being a scavenger. I have heard they are VERY good for acros. Mine RARELY left the acro (perhaps due to an xmas wrasse I had..)
...oh, my acro and crab lived together for over 2 years before I managed to kill the coral accidentally. FYI, this was one of only two acros I was able to keep under VHO (no halides at all). So, the crab may prefer less harsh lighting? (just a guess).
...oh, my acro and crab lived together for over 2 years before I managed to kill the coral accidentally. FYI, this was one of only two acros I was able to keep under VHO (no halides at all). So, the crab may prefer less harsh lighting? (just a guess).
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bigsteelfan
New member
it is very small but as far as i can tell it does not have the fan like appendages it only comes out very late at night thanx for your guesses im going to look a pic of an acro crab
Adam
New member
Hi all,
In general, I am an "innocent until proven guilty" kind of guy when it comes to unintentional tank inhabitants. However, when it comes to crabs, I don't like to take any chances. Most will indiscriminately eat whatever it can get it's claws on, and many get large and have the potential to be quite destructive. Hairy or smooth, blue eyes or otherwise, etc. I won't even keep hermits.
If you would like to remove the crab, they are quite easy to capture. Attach a piece of meaty food to a small rock and drop it into a glass drinking glass. Place the glass in the tank with the rim leaning against the rocks. The crab will go after the food, slide down the wall of the glass and won't be able to climb back out.
Adam
In general, I am an "innocent until proven guilty" kind of guy when it comes to unintentional tank inhabitants. However, when it comes to crabs, I don't like to take any chances. Most will indiscriminately eat whatever it can get it's claws on, and many get large and have the potential to be quite destructive. Hairy or smooth, blue eyes or otherwise, etc. I won't even keep hermits.
If you would like to remove the crab, they are quite easy to capture. Attach a piece of meaty food to a small rock and drop it into a glass drinking glass. Place the glass in the tank with the rim leaning against the rocks. The crab will go after the food, slide down the wall of the glass and won't be able to climb back out.
Adam
LeviChar1
New member
A great point, Adam. I too got rid of my hermits. The acro crab was the only thing I kept, and I watched it like a hawk for 2 months before relaxing a bit.
I believe that there is far more we don't know than what we do, but critters (provided we have some control over them) should be given the benefit of the doubt, which requires they be kept under watchful eye.
By control, I refer to the ease of removal (crabs) vs. how difficult it would be to remove an unknown swimming worm that you may never see again.
Hitchers come with every piece of rock. Watch your stuff when you put new pieces in, and watch it at NIGHT too. Inventory your corals and know their health. Then you can determine if there is something really going on. There is risk in EVERY add you make to your tank. Luckily, this one can be managed easily, and maybe you got a new, free, cool critter.
I don't pay much attention to smooth vs. bumpy type descriptions. Those are just short-cuts we all sometimes use because we really don't know the answer.
I say, give the little dude a chance. Watch him like a hawk. See what happens.
This is a very fun part of the hobby.
I believe that there is far more we don't know than what we do, but critters (provided we have some control over them) should be given the benefit of the doubt, which requires they be kept under watchful eye.
By control, I refer to the ease of removal (crabs) vs. how difficult it would be to remove an unknown swimming worm that you may never see again.
Hitchers come with every piece of rock. Watch your stuff when you put new pieces in, and watch it at NIGHT too. Inventory your corals and know their health. Then you can determine if there is something really going on. There is risk in EVERY add you make to your tank. Luckily, this one can be managed easily, and maybe you got a new, free, cool critter.
I don't pay much attention to smooth vs. bumpy type descriptions. Those are just short-cuts we all sometimes use because we really don't know the answer.
I say, give the little dude a chance. Watch him like a hawk. See what happens.
This is a very fun part of the hobby.
