Tiny Crab ID Request

[sl01]

Hey guys, I found this little crab hanging out on the fleshy part of a candy-cane coral. I managed to catch 'em - attached is a photo. It's about 1/4" around or so.

Good or evil?

Thanks in advance!

--SL

 

[eugeneK]

defiantely ugly

 

[LeslieH]

Neutral. I think it may be a cryptochirid. These are coral commensals. They live in or among corals. Some are filter feeders, some are detritus feeders, while others eat coral mucus or a bit of flesh. In return they provide nutrients to the corals & sometimes actively depend their hosts from predators.