Zoanthid hitchhiker ID

[ViktorVaughn]

Purchased this Zoanthid rock on 8/2/2013 and it has seemed to be doing fine while in my tank. It wasn't until about two weeks of it being in the tank that I noticed the critter pictured below. The picture I took was unfortunately the best I could take as he is pretty elusive and likes to hide out inside the Zoanthids rock base crevices. As is, I had to sit and watch the Zoa for 15 minutes just for him to poke out about halfway where I snapped his picture which caused him to scurry back into the rockwork the Zoa colony is on. He seems to be very sensitive to movement in front of the tank and change in waterflow around his rock.

It looks to me like a crab, has two pincers up front that he lightly squeezes the Zoa stems with. The Zoa does not seem to mind him, individual polyps near him and ones that get walked on/squeezed do not normally close up. It is all one shade of a light tan color, I have tried to count his legs but can never get a full view of him and all attempts to get him out of the Zoa have failed. Any idea from the picture below? And if so is he ok or harmful, and if harmful what are some good techniques to get rid of him.

 

[jim95926]

crab

crab

Looks like a crab to me. Probably a scavenger. I would not take any chances and would toss him, especially if he is squeezing polyps. If he is on that rock just take it out and dip or use tweezers to pull him off. You should always dip new pieces.

 

[worm5406]

Looks almost like a gorilla... Can we get a closer picture?

 

[A. Grandis]

Just remove the crab, not a good thing for reef tanks.

Grandis.

 

[ViktorVaughn]

Looks almost like a gorilla... Can we get a closer picture?

I will try and snap a better one tomorrow when the lights are on but he is a sneaky little guy.

Just remove the crab, not a good thing for reef tanks.

Grandis.

Any tips on the best way to do so? I can't even get near the zoa while he is poking his body out of the zoa's rockwork without him scurrying back inside and hiding. I have tried to get him with every water change, starting the siphon by him to no luck. Also tried to suck him out with a turkey baster but I kind of figured going into that it might be pointless as he looks like he can hang on pretty well with the claws he has.

Are dips successful? Totally should have done this in the first place and definitely plan on doing so to all new pieces.

 

[A. Grandis]

Any tips on the best way to do so? I can't even get near the zoa while he is poking his body out of the zoa's rockwork without him scurrying back inside and hiding. I have tried to get him with every water change, starting the siphon by him to no luck. Also tried to suck him out with a turkey baster but I kind of figured going into that it might be pointless as he looks like he can hang on pretty well with the claws he has.

Are dips successful? Totally should have done this in the first place and definitely plan on doing so to all new pieces.

Take the whole rock out of the tank and let the crab get out by itself from the hole.
It's worthy!

Grandis.

 

[Pembro]

I had to take out every rock in my tank to catch one. He wouldn't let go of the rock so used tweezers to pulled his legs off. He wiped out my CUC

 

[worm5406]

Home drinking glass (GLASS) turned at an angle with some shrimp in the bottom. It will not be able to climb back up the side. Angle about 50-60 degrees.

 

[Pembro]

Yea you can try the trap. I tried the glass trap and the bottle trap and he didn't go fall for it. I would take the rock out and get him that way

 

[650-IS350]

if the rock it self is easily pulled out of tank pull it out and if the crab is in a hole, superglue him in there to create a tomb.

 

[ViktorVaughn]

Nice guys thanks for all the good tips. My LFS guy had suggested the shot glass trick too, tried it out and thought that it was going to work. The crab or whatever the heck it is would start to slowly come out but he just couldn't get to it in time as my tiny clown would swim in forward, eat the shrimp, and than just scoot his way out. I was getting frustrated and wasn't sure if the zoanthid could be removed from the water safely for easier removal of the pest. How long can you safely keep zoa's out of water while working on them?

 

[worm5406]

5 + minutes with no problems.

 

[650-IS350]

i've done longer than 5 mins same with SPS... LOL