"Decorator Crab"

Kiboshed

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This was labeled as a Decorator Crab at my local Petco. Been there over a month and I think it's fascinating.

What species is this specifically and is it reef safe?

Would love to get this little guy for my 32 Gallon Biocube, but not if he is going to harm my fish or corals. Only other inverts in the tank are snails, and urchin, and 1 scarlet hermit crab

PXL_20240110_231528040.MP.jpg
 

Cthulukelele

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Agree looks like decorator not sure on species. I've seen things looking like that described as sponge decorator crabs before. Also as for reef safeness they definitely frag coral to use for their camo
 
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Agree looks like decorator not sure on species. I've seen things looking like that described as sponge decorator crabs before. Also as for reef safeness they definitely frag coral to use for their camo
Just soft corals like GSP and Zoans? Or SPS and LPS also?
 
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For sure. Also if it helps I had a spider decorator in my sunlit plague softy tank. They were maybe my favorite thing in there.
I'm sitting here trying to justify buying it like "Maybe I only get cheap corals?" Lol
 

maethuu

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I bought 2 small decorator crabs and they were okay for a few months then they started to eat my soft corals. They never really wore any corals which was disappointing.
 
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I bought 2 small decorator crabs and they were okay for a few months then they started to eat my soft corals. They never really wore any corals which was disappointing.
Awww that's a bummer some soft coral destruction would almost be worth it if they actually wore it around.
 

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That crab is Marcocoeloma Trispinosum AKA The sponge decorator crab, they won't eat corals but he'll rip them apart to camouflage with. one of my all time favorite inverts!
 

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