Rock flower anemone hosting porcelain crab

[HiImSean]

I picked up a porcelain crab at Pure last week to go with my rock flower. I went to introduce it into the tank and the rock flower started close up on it as if it was going to eat the crab. I managed to get the crab out fast enough though. Is this something I should worry about? I thought that rock flowers would normally host a porcelain crab? Would the anemone eat the crab?

 

[pilot.darren]

a very healthy nem could eat the crab no prob.

 

[Carrera75]

I picked up a porcelain crab at Pure last week to go with my rock flower. I went to introduce it into the tank and the rock flower started close up on it as if it was going to eat the crab. I managed to get the crab out fast enough though. Is this something I should worry about? I thought that rock flowers would normally host a porcelain crab? Would the anemone eat the crab?

RFAs host porcelain crabs for sure. I have about 40 RFAs in my tank with several porcelain crabs and they host different anemones throughout the day. The anemone will only eat the porcelain crab if this is not healthy or if it's on its way out.




Here is two porcelain crabs hosting the same anemone.

 

[HiImSean]

Thanks. I had the crab in an acclimation box for 2 weeks because I was out of town and also worried about my melanurus wrasse going after it. I introduced it on Friday. I placed it near the anemone but it's yet to go in and the wrasse pays it no attention.