Acro Eating Crab?
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Invertebrates
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about invertebrates.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3841
Printed Date: August 31 2025 at 7:04am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Acro Eating Crab?
Posted By: jfinch
Subject: Acro Eating Crab?
Date Posted: October 03 2004 at 3:45pm
|
One of my acro heads started to show missing flesh in various parts of the skeleton. I never noticed any fish nipping at it. But I did notice that a "strange" crab had taken up residence in the branches. Here's a picture, as you can see it doesn't really look like the normal acro crabs that I have in my acros. So I decided to remove the crab and see if the coral recovers. Unfortunately I was a little heavy handed with the tweezers and crushed his head.
This is what the acro looks like. It's strange... only the external flesh has been removed. Whatever was doing this has left most of the polyps intact. I'll update this thread in a month or two if the acro recovers or if I find it was some other pest. Anyone else experience anything like this?
------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Replies:
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: October 03 2004 at 4:01pm
 Oh yeah. Just recently too. I had two Emerald Crabs that loved my Stylopora. My usual nighttime examinations of the tank discovered them scraping off the flesh but eventually the polyps started dieing. They left the other SPS alone though. I transferred them to the Bangerter tank. The Stylopora has almost fully recovered (3 weeks) but unfortunately, now I have an increasing Valonia population. 
I don't feel too sorry for that crab.  Watch out for Jon with tweezers! ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: October 03 2004 at 4:33pm
|
I guess I better keep an eye on my emeralds too... ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Weimers
Date Posted: October 03 2004 at 5:04pm
|
If you need them tweezed out, get a girl to do it for ya. We're used to delicate work with tweezers (or else we would poke an eye out). I'll catch 'em for ya if you'd like. ------------- Renee and Damon Weimer Tankless in Hawaii |
Posted By: reptoreef
Date Posted: October 03 2004 at 8:12pm
|
I have "ruby emerald" that does the same thing... very much larger, though. He's a temp in the sump, now and destined for Renee's tank. ------------- www.captivereefing.com |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: October 04 2004 at 4:36am
|
Are women better Surgeons I wonder? ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: October 04 2004 at 7:12am
|
Are women better Surgeons I wonder? I don't know, but if I'm going to play doctor I prefer to do it with a female ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Crazy Tarzan
Date Posted: October 04 2004 at 7:29am
|
I've recently noticed my emerald crab crawling around in my acros as
well... and some of them are showing signs of the same damage as
you coral jon... wonder if mine isn't eating them as well?
Have to keep an eye on him...
------------- Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ? Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing |