Gall Crab in Lobo

[RDHDDRAGON]

I posted this in another section, but wanted you all to see what i found in my reef tank!

The flesh started to die from one side, i have only had the lobo about 2 weeks. Couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. Kept spreading further. Finally I was trying to take pics of it so i could zoom in on it and see what was causing the damage. I saw something move in an adjacent lobo head mouth. My husband stuck a screwdriver in it and below is what popped out. Belly huge with yellow eggs.

Damaged Lobo:

The moving spot:

The crab: That yellow circle is the head of a straight pin. Small!

Closeup of her:

underside with flap pulled up (full of yellow eggs)

Does anyone have experience with these? From what i have been reading they dont eat coral. The lobo had fallen on another coral and that is what i first attributed the death too but it kept spreading. Do you think maybe it moved out of its old hole because the coral there was dying? I hate to kill it if its good, but i dont know lol. Any ideas?

 

[Lytehouse]

no ideas,
but great idea with using the camera to do close up search.
did the screwdriver jab damage the other lobo?

 

[RDHDDRAGON]

No, it didn't damage it any further. The crab had already made a new hole through the lobo. Once the crab was removed the lobo closed itself back over the hole.

I tried to feed it and that head ate very well so I am hopeful without the irritation of the crab it will heal up okay.

 

[Lytehouse]

If it is eating readily, you'll probably be ok.
What a nasty little bugger to get, a lobo eater...

 

[lauremf2002]

Thank goodness you got it before the eggs hatched!