Friend or foe

[kamil5000]

Hi,

I found this crab in a newly arrived Acro. Can any one tell me if they are reef safe or not.


I have also a bigger one - but the pic is too big to post.


tks.

 

[k.tran]

for the crabs you find on acros..
hairy = throw it out

i think the acro crabs are whiteish/pale yellowish color haha, or thats the color of all of mine

 

[kamil5000]

Here is another picture...they look similar to the white ones.

 

[scrapz]

theres different kinds of acro crabs, the common ones are fully white with a black band.

I have 2 different type of acro crab, the common bandits^, a brown/reddish bandit

that = hairy = to the sump!

 

[saltwaterjames]

Another way to decide if it's a friend or foe is the size of the pinchers compared to the crabs body. This crab's pinchers are over proportioned compared to its body. Larger pinchers mean stronger and can more easily crush and devour your corals. So I would say its not reef safe. Just my wannabee expert opinion.

 

[kamil5000]

Thanks guys. I guess its not worth the risk.

 

[kamil5000]

whats the best way to dispose of them - humanely

 

[Ty1e]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13384267#post13384267 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scrapz
theres different kinds of acro crabs, the common ones are fully white with a black band.

I have 2 different type of acro crab, the common bandits^, a brown/reddish bandit

that = hairy = to the sump!

Scraps, the hairy ones, do they have white eyes?

 

[scrapz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13384382#post13384382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ty1e
Scraps, the hairy ones, do they have white eyes?

no idea, i don't think so though. all i saw was a hairy crab and i yanked him & tossed in my sump.

quick death = smash him with a hammer

 

[Ty1e]

i hear you, i had the this kind of crab hitch a ride on an purple acro and within a week or two my coral died.

found another one on a new stag i just got, it has grey hair with white eye's and it has been seen digging in to the polyps of the green stag.

I think i'll extract him this evening.:lol:

 

[stunreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13384362#post13384362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kamil5000
whats the best way to dispose of them - humanely

Take 'em to a LFS. They probably wont be to humane to them, but I suppose its better than just tossing him in the trash or outside.

If you have FO tank or know someone that does, there are lots of fish that would gladly humanely make him dinner. Considering thats the circle of life thats still waaay better IMO to do rather than toss him.

 

[Talis]

if you want to be humane then put em in a freezer bag with some tank water and throw em in the freezer.... take a hammer to em after they are frozen if you like

 

[naldopr]

gorilla crab?

 

[iCon31]

Put them in ur fuge

 

[flyyyguy]

he IS a good guy

keep him and let him have his acro home

I had several just like that before my little accident last year

I assume the color in that second pic isnt so accurate

 

[adtravels]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13387767#post13387767 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flyyyguy
he IS a good guy

keep him and let him have his acro home

I had several just like that before my little accident last year

I assume the color in that second pic isnt so accurate

plus 1

 

[danfrith]

Agreed with the above, hes a good crab. The hairy dull brown blue eyed ones are the bad ones. Yours just has a little red hair algae on its body. I have the same crab in my birdsnest.