How to get crabs out of a Acropora?

[dtiedke]

I went and did some shopping this weekend, and picked up 20 corals from Portland area stores...


My wife spotted two rather large (size of a quarter) crabs inside one of the Acros we bought. I can't believe I didn't see them when I was placing the corals, but sure enough they are there. In fact, I can't imagine how they could get out of the coral as they seem pretty big, and the branches are quite dense.

Anyway, if I can figure out how to get them out I will take a picture. Should I be concerned? They are brown color, they have very pointy claws, both claws are the same size....

I also noticed a few aiptasia on a ricordia cluster rock I got..... Hope my peppermints find them.... :evil:


Dave

 

[EmilyB]

Commensal crabs......you lucky devil 8)

 

[dtiedke]

Cool...!

 

[SCIronMike]

Acropora crabs! YAY!!!!!!

 

[esmithiii]

How to get crabs out of a Acropora?

You don't.

Ernie

 

[LFS42]

I belive you throw the acropora out an then the crabs are gone :lol:

 

[dizzy]

Dave,
A flat screwdriver should do the trick. Just wedge it in there and pop out the particular branch the crab is hiding in. You should end up with a nice frag in the bargain. :wink:

 

[O P Ing]

hi. Leave them in there. End of story.

 

[Anonymous]

a clawed hammer should do the trick. just place the coral on a solid level surface and strike away.

 

[Palmetto]

Are the crabs smooth-shelled?

Not hairy looking little tarantulas?

Porcellana crabs are beneficial acro-dwellers, and will help take care of your corals.

The hairy ones are bad, though- and they will sometimes dwell in acropora just like the others, except they like to rip tissue off and wreak havoc.

Remember, just because a crab is in an Acropora does not make it a good crab!

 

[Mac1]

You said they were brownish colored? Did they have Beedy, Green little eye's? I've witnessed this type of crab eating axial polyps off a few of my acro's... Thought it was commensural. Finally caught it migrating from the acro it was eating off of, to the one it was living in, and was able to remove him to my refugium. Haven't seen him much in a few months, not at all sorry to see it go.
The Commensural crabs I have seen, that do not eat the axial polyps, are much smaller, have a smooth shell (lemme guess, this one looks fuzzy?), and dark bands over their eye's. There has been some discussion about these different types of crabs, but can't remember where... perhaps on the SPS Keepers Forum over at ReefCentral.

- Mac

 

[MarkO1]

I found one hanging out in my Accro too, but figured he was probably more good than harm since he came with the accro. I actually think it's symbiotic, if anything.
_________________
Honda CB250F

 

[dizzy]

Quarter size seems awfully large for a desirable commensual crab. Most of the good ones I've seen are pea size or smaller.

 

[Garry thomas]

Leave them in there,they must be acro crabs. They would have done a bunk when the lights went out first. :lol:

 

[sammystingray]

The only ones I know that are good are the little bandit crabs that live in acros and have a black strip across their eyes like a mask.....there are several "bad" crabs that live in acros as well, and eat the coral. I know there's a green one that's bad......but I don't know if your's good or bad. Anyway, lots of bad crabs come in acros.

 

[Anonymous]

Tell your Acros, "Bad Acro!!! No more sleeping around!

If that doesn't work there are creams and gels out there...

 

[esmithiii]

Tell your Acros, "Bad Acro!!! No more sleeping around!

LMAOROTF

 

[SnoopDog]

Your very very lucky. My acro crabs died months after I got my SPS. Thing is I liked the crabs more than the corals. I was disheartened after they disapeared. Not sure why they died but they were by far my favorite thing to watch in the tank. Most of mine looked like they had mask over there eyes, like little bandits.