Uh-oh

[ironman58]

Hey y'all. been a while since I posted. The tank's coming along well..EXCEPT I dropped by SWC today and saw a cool looking crab and picked him up. I put him in the tank and he went straight for some of my corals and started in on 'em. He actually snipped my xenia and planted them on his head. Yes, his HEAD and commenced to munch on the stalk. I researched this a little and the closest thing I could find is that he's a "Dromiidae Crab" I left him in a while longer, but when I came back later, he'd cleared the rock of xenia, several pieces attached to his body SO I took him out and put him in the refugium until I get a chance to return him. I was afraid he'd clear out the whole tank.
I have a pair of smaller emerald crabs, and they don't seem to bother anything. Will they eventually start in on my corals as they grow?

 

[skriz]

decorator crabs will dress themselves like that.

As far as emeralds, they should be okay, but you always run the risk of them munching a little bit. I've never heard of them wiping out a colony though.

 

[liverock27]

Sorry about the damage from the new crab. I have had emeralds in all of my reef tanks and never had a problem with them and coral. The only time my current one bothers corals is when I am spot feeding them, so I have to sword fight him with the turkey baster until my acans are done eating.

 

[seedless reefer]

Was this that crazy looking black crab in the upper end tank?

I've been looking at that crab for about 3 weeks. Crazy looking crab for sure.

 

[ironman58]

Yep, that's the same guy...I'm taking him back Saturday, I currently have him in the refugium. I sorta feel sorry for him because he's just sitting there with nowhere to go..