Whats happening here?

[coralfarmer84]

I have a large green slimer colony that has been doing great. Then within the last week I've started to notice small chunks of polyps missing. They are scattered randomly in about 4 separate places on the colony. What could be doing this. I have several other SPS pieces all of which are fine. the only thing I noticed is a small crab living in the main crevice of the coral. I'm not sure if its an acro crab or not, it doesn't move from that spot during the day and looks sorta like a brown version of an emerald crab. Could he be the problem?? I can't get a picture of it so hopefully you guys can help. thanks

 

[29reef]

Sounds to me like a predator is eating your coral, flatworms would be my guess but i have never had them so i dont know for sure. A problem no matter how you look at it. Good luck

 

[twon8]

i have one of those in my tank, not sure if he is harming anything, but since emerald (mithrax) crabs are not really reef safe i tend to think a similiar crab would not be safe either.

 

[coralfarmer84]

Hmm I can't tell if hes hairy or not, things i read on here say that if its got hairy legs pull it. I might just do it anyways, just to be safe. I never noticed the crab until this started happening. I have acro crabs and he doesn't look anything like them, the ones i have are white and tiny, hes a little bigger and scary looking compared to them guys

 

[Rav-65]

Try removing it when it doubt and post a pic of it... if its safe, u can always put it back...

 

[coker98]

if its not safe throw it in the sump