Shrimp living in the Mouth of a Torch

[racinghart]

Has anyone ever found a shrimp or crab living in the mouth of a torch coral or any other LPS? Has a feather like head I am trying to get better picture. I see that he has legs and claws so I think it is a shrimp.

 

[dtburton75]

YES! I have that very creature living in my torch also.


Does he pop out of a little hole slowly and look around when he comes to the top of the hole, then quickly hide when a fish or something comes around or if you are in front of the tank?

The guy at the LFS thinks I'm doing drugs so I am glad to come across some one else that has witnessed the same thing. I'm having trouble getting a quality picture of him but I will post one that I have anyway.

Well I tried but I can not figure out how to down size the picture without distorting it. I will take some in smaller format tomorrow then Maybe someone can tell us what it is.

 

[ALTI]

ive seen those living in the christmas tree worm holes before. it was a while ago but i believe dr ron id'ed them as a type of shell less hermit crab.

 

[SilverBack27]

that sounds pretty weird. I would like to see a pic when yall get one.

 

[dtburton75]

This is the dude

This is a top veiw of the hole

 

[KEstep]

I have a little orange crab that lives under a polyp in my sun polyps. When I feed them he comes out, sticks a claw in the mouth of a polyp, pulls a piece of food, and eats it.. I'm hoping it isn't I bad crab for that, would like to think it is a symbiotic relationship.

 

[ManEatingGuppy]

looks like a barnicle, are you sure its a shrimp?

 

[dtburton75]

I don't think its a shrimp or crab I don't know what it is

All I know is that he lives in a hole in the skeleton of the coral and never comes out of the hole. I believe he is supposed to be there because when he goes in side the hole he has a shield that fold over him.

You can also see two more holes like the one he is in when the torch is closed that are vacant.

 

[55semireef]

Looks like a barnicle or feather duster. Just my guess.

 

[dtburton75]

Yes I believe it is a Coral Gall Barnacle I found a picture in a book at the fish store.

But I am not a 100% sure because I can not see the body.

Does anyone know of a place on line that would have good pictures?

 

[dtburton75]

I finely got a decent picture.

 

[Lemmz]

I have one living on a dead branch of my torch also, it is definitely a barnacle but I'm not sure of the particular name