Coral Eating Hermit Crab

[patrickpernell]

I have a piece of coral that is eating a small crab with the shell on. Is this okay? It seems to be closing around the crab and the crab is alive. Should I do anything? Also, what is the name of this coral?

 

[Reefpuck]

Nature taking it's course. Hermit is probably going to be eaten...then it will likely spit the shell out. Just keep an eye out on it.

It's an open brain coral.

 

[jlmawp]

Could it be that the hermit is picking at the mouth, and the response from the coral is to close up and protect itself?

 

[jjwillia]

I honestly have no idea but that sure is interesting.

 

[Uncle99]

Looks like an open brain coral but the crab is acting like it's in an anenome.
Maybe the pic is not clear.

 

[moneymm]

I have a piece of coral that is eating a small crab with the shell on. Is this okay? It seems to be closing around the crab and the crab is alive. Should I do anything? Also, what is the name of this coral?

thats pretty cool, please keep us posted.

 

[patrickpernell]

This morning the coral was completely closed around the crab. I thought it had spit out the shell, but just now I saw it opening up and the shell was still inside.

 

[mcgyvr]

"Life Happens"