Reef Discussion

[MagicJ]

This one is probably made for dr_schell ;)

Fragged a bit of birdsnest today and came across these two

Now the first one I am pretty comfortable with and he has been returned to the tank with the birdsnest.

The second one I am not so sure about - hairy legs worry me - pending the judges decision he has been sumped.
Any ID's would be appreciated :)

 

[Donski]

i could be wrong (very likely) but if you google pictures of emerald crabs there are a few that look very similar to the second one

 

[MagicJ]

i could be wrong (very likely) but if you google pictures of emerald crabs there are a few that look very similar to the second one

Not found in our waters though - only in the Caribbean ;)

 

[Dr. Schell]

the second is most probably what is known as a "Warty Reef Scraper" (Pilodius areolatus). The specimen depicted looks like a juvenile that has not fully developed the bumps on the carapace. This species uses it claws to scrape food off rocks and coral. Probably best to remove it as its "scraping" may damage living coral.

 

[Talmier]

General rule I usually go by hairy crab = bad crab

 

[Jonny Glover]

Yeah, i hate hairy crabs lol

 

[Reefin]

Looks like a dodgy little crab haha no where near as cute as this one
i just love the porcelian crab :)

 

[MTG]

Ditch the second Shane or banish it to the weir or sump to feed on left overs. That's what I do,

 

[Dr. Schell]

Tim, your anemone crab is about to mould it's shell!

 

[Reefin]

ah how can you tell?
this is not y crab however used to have one
just had no photos on the compter ( googled)
anyway good to hear ppl dont like the hairy leg crabs..ive never been a fan ahah
is there anyway to tell if they are gonna eat the corals?
i thought most crabs would have a peck?? scratch ??
whatever at them soft and hard
thanks
Tim

 

[Dr. Schell]

This is my pair of anemone crabs

You can tell when they are about to mould as they get a red colouration to their shell. After they moult, they are bright white.

 

[Reefin]

Ah that makes sense :) thanks for the info and VID !!! :D

 

[MagicJ]

Seeing as we are talking about crabs, this is one I had in my tank a number of years ago

He didn't last long after I caught him eating my corals - here he is after cutting off a couple of tips of my torch coral

 

[Dynamic]

What happened to him? Sump?

 

[Reefin]

Wow yeah what happened to it ahah its either really hairy... :eek:or dead and growing fungus ahhahaha;)

 

[MagicJ]

What happened to him? Sump?

No, worse than that mate :D

I think they have a common name of teddy bear crabs.

 

[Dynamic]

lol, poor little dude. Harsh.

 

[Reefin]

AWWW how cute ahah teddy bear crabs lol
reef safe? freebies when buying coral? where in the world r they from ?
thanks

 

[VaultBoy]

I think i have a warty reef scraper.... He has been banished to the weir! I will try and get a pic tomorrow for a proper ID. Thanks for the info Doc

 

[Dr. Schell]

Anytime ;)