Pink Hairy Crab on Pocilipora

[johnstires]

I just got a nice pocilipora and I noticed that a pink hairy crab lives in it. Should I take him off or is he harmless? I think he is cute, but if he's gonna kill my coral, he'll have to go... to my little non sps tank.

 

[ERB82]

Do you have a picture?

 

[OnlyCrimson]

Sounds like a good one, but we need a pic.

 

[Paulairduck]

I dont take any chances, he would not be in my tank. The hairy ones are usually bad

 

[spsfreak]

+1 for what Paulairduck said; hairy, typically is bad.

 

[PSam]

There are some hairy crabs commensal with Pocillopora sp.

 

[CorkPullerPHL]

emerald crabs have hairy legs. I know people debate how reef safe they are, but mine is a perfect citizen. . ..

 

[spsfreak]

na, not just a little hair on the legs, I mean just covered with hair. I had one (pink with light brown hair all over) that decimated a green pocillopora I had.

 

[Ty1e]

ooooooh,
get him out get him out get him out...
i had a little white/grey hairy one in my stylopora and in one night it destroyed the area it lived.
I banished him two my sump where a 1 1/2 inch (claw to claw) emerald crab lives.

 

[johnstires]

yeah i'm not gonna take any chances, there is a small dying spot on the coral and the entire thing looks really healthy except for that one part. Also my other SPS corals are all happy. He's going to the small nano where he can live amongst the mushrooms and kenya trees...

 

[johnstires]

Here he is. He's in a container right now so lemme know if I should put him back with the coral.

He was picking around the dead spot, does that mean he's feasting off the coral or is he trying to clean up the dead tissue?

 

[Paul_PSU]

I would leave that one out. Most of the good acro crabs have smooth shells.

 

[graveyardworm]

Had a very similar one living in an acro colony which was eating the coral tissue, and the coral was obviously stressed. I move or end it. I moved mine to the sump.

 

[Ty1e]

yup, that's a bad crab

 

[ERB82]

You know anyone who has a trigger? hehe

 

[johnstires]

SO for the record, this guy was the culprite. Since he has been out of the tank the coral has recovered in his dead spots and is thriving. Thanks All!

 

[Aj Flip]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13954841#post13954841 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ERB82
You know anyone who has a trigger? hehe

good idea

 

[tang daddy]

as everyone has said that is an evil crab... when in doubt take it out. The way you tell if it's an acro crab is by the slit eyes and smooth flatten body. If they have any hair on their legs or shell and loveable blue eyes take them out.

 

[johnstires]

yeah he definitely had loveable blue eyes, I was mesmerized and wanted to keep him around. Thanks for the support to kick him out all!

 

[Hendersonracing]

Bad Boy!