Crab ID? Looks adapted for life in SPS (found him there) -- OK for reef?

[pdelcast]

Found this little guy in a Birdsnest -- from the shape of his legs I would guess he's adapted for life in Acros. OK for reef or put in refugium?

Thanx!

Sitting in birds nest:

In a bucket (after pulling him out)

 

[crsswift70]

Neat, but seems like everyone says fuzzy crabs are normally not good.Kind of looks like a gorilla crab.

 

[mhills16]

this was just on a thread for id and they said not reef safe, ill see if i can find it and leave for you to see!

 

[mhills16]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1436446

this resembles your crab, but see for yourself and you decide, they didnt really help much. i didnt see and id just said not reef safe!

 

[acpoweradapter]

No, they are not safe. The white acro crabs are safe.

 

[lzqkeith]

agree ,fuzzy crabs are normally not good

 

[ginger7286]

Looks like a teddy bear crab. They are supposed to be harmless to the reef tank. Check out reefscavengers.com they have a description of them and a picture.

 

[LeslieH]

No, this one is in genus Cymo. All species in this genus are obligate symbionts of acroporid corals. They are reported to eat primarily mucus and occasionally a few polyps but help keep the corals in good health through their clean up activities and by chasing off would-be coral predators.