sps and acro crabs

[rogerwilco357]

I have noticed while fighting the dreaded AEFW problem that my purple acro didn't have any on it no worms or bite marks or white patches ..and it is the only acro with an acro crab taking up residence could it be that the crab protects it from the worms? if so where can you buy these crabs for the rest of the acros?

 

[StarF]

I have seen a lot of so called experience reefers, say that the acro crab will protect its host against pest like aefw, and red bugs. This has also ben my own obversation, sadley i have never seem them for sale.

 

[bs21]

I think liveaquaria sells them.

 

[neoalchemist74]

I believe they also protect against redbugs.

 

[myaerica]

Liveaquaria

 

[Rosh]

Acrocrabs are easily identified with their black band across their eyes.

Some of the acro crabs appear orange due to their recent molt.

Large SPS colonies will be much healthier with acro crabs in them, since there won't be any debri's that'll linger on the colony too long.

Another thing about the crabs is, more than one can live together in the same colony.

Goodluck finding one though, they're not hardy shippers, the best way to ship them would be in a dead acro colony.

 

[menthol]

it's tough to find acro crabs when you just buy your sps at a lfs. they do not do well in shipping, the sps just wrapped in wet paper and all. i on the other hand have plenty, about 3 per colony as i get my sps from the wild and transport it real quick into my tank.

 

[pluschinatown]

When my LFS gets a acro order in they pick out all the bad acro crabs and keep the good ones. Usually most of them survive. But it depends on how long they are bagged for. Maybe goto your all your LFS or the ones that do more sps and ask if they will sell you some out of their colonies.

 

[DJREEF]

Biological problems are always solved with biological solutions.

Look into goby species as well. Specifically members of the genus Amblygobias.

DJ

 

[rogerwilco357]

well out of 20 colonies i have one rock with a purple acro,red planet and another purple acro and the crab came with the purple one and he moves from coral to coral and those three have been pest free no bugs no bites no nothing but the big colonies that are on the other side of the tank have been hit hard and find them when basting every nite till now , i have basted 3 times a day in the morning afternoon and at night and have been doing this for a week now i started getting 6 big worms a day now after a week i get zero big worms and just 2 little ones barely visible must be hatchlings and the fish eat em and i siphon what i can ..I will be setting up my qt this weekend and dipping in revive for 6 weeks to 2 months till the main tank is cleared ..i will remove all sps and the poccilapora which to my amazement also has some at the base ..i trust no acro and now test all corals period except the lps like my acans which have shown no bugs or signs..hope that helps good luck hope you end up finding out your problem was ph or something easy to deal with. as i would wish this on no one who loves there corals like i do..
Roger

 

[DJREEF]

http://www.imagequest3d.com/pages/articles/trapezius.htm

http://news.mongabay.com/2006/1023-ucsb.html

DJ