Crab living inside candy cane?

[GoingPostal]

I was looking at one of three small candy cane frags and thought I saw something moving inside it so I threw in a few pellets. Nothing came out of that one but a pellet fell directly on another head and what appears to be a small crab took it and ate it. All I can see is one white claw and it didn't try to grab a nearby pellet. I have a few sections of the candy canes that have holes in the middle which I had assumed was the beginning of splitting but maybe not. Pics are impossible as I have a crappy camera and the frag is only two heads, I did some searching and think maybe a gall crab but I couldn't find a very good pic of one to compare. I'm considering a Lugols dip to see what comes out but wanted to get more opinions first.

 

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Not sure a Lugol's dip would be the ticket. Perhaps just a simple freshwater dip would work.

 

[circusordie16]

i woudlnt freshwater dip a candy cane, go lugols first.

 

[GoingPostal]

Yeah so tried Lugols in saltwater, got nothing, they moved around but didn't come out. I can still see two alive moving out of three holes, I dipped two frags. I checked all candycanes and can see at least five or six holes, they seem to go pretty deep into the skeleton. I had assumed the candys weren't doing well because of a clown goby sitting on them 24/7 but I removed him so I started looking closer.
I can see a brown body and white claws, I think I will try a freshwater dip next, none of the candy canes with holes look 100% so I don't think the crabs are making them very happy.

 

[Der_Iron_Chef]

A freshwater dip should not harm them! I'm not sure if the crabs will come out, but it's worth a try, eh?

 

[RichConley]

Are you sure the crabs are even harming the corals? There are symbiotic crabs.

 

[GoingPostal]

Well, I'm not positive but the candy's with the holes and crabs don't open or expand well at all. Basically they always look retracted, not puffy and they never extend feeders anymore. The ones without visible crabs look tons healthier. However I still haven't figured out a good way to remove them.

 

[Rothie]

This post may help
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1129536

 

[GoingPostal]

I'm not sure those are the same, I saw white claws. I haven't had a chance to try a freshwater dip, but if that doesn't work can I razor blade split the candy basically? I don't really want to hurt them. I did get some pics taken, the first is healthy candys, next is crab inhabited, and the last is a decent pic of the holes on a different frag.