Good Acro Crab or Bad?

filbie70 · Dec 11, 2016

This guy has stripped the side of one of my Acros. He was in another one that did need help recovering and now it is. But, he moved over to this one that I thought was doing well. It is a fuzzy relish brown color with blue eyes. Thoughts?

filbie70 · Dec 11, 2016

A couple of additional pics

View attachment 20161211_212914.jpg

Salty1962 · Dec 11, 2016

It appears to be a Gorilla crab, I would pull and put it in your sump.

Roboson · Dec 11, 2016

I can't tell from the photos. If you can get him out, post some photos and I'll give you an ID.

filbie70 · Dec 12, 2016

I'll try to get better pics. But, based on the other coral that he ate part of and it is now recovering. I'm thinking it may be Cymo Melanodactylus, or The Furry Coral Crab. If so, he maybe destroying my Acro.

Named for the setae covered, ‘furry’ appearance of its carapace, this crab actually feeds on mucus secreted by the coral, dead coral tissue, and floating zooplankton/detritus. At first thought to be an infesting pest species, later studies have concluded that C. melanodactylus crabs actually slow/reverse progression of tissue loss caused by White Syndrome (WS) in acroporid corals, rather than acting as a potential vector.

White band disease is a coral disease that affects acroporid corals and is distinguishable by the white band of dead coral tissue that it forms. The disease completely destroys the coral tissue of Caribbean acroporid corals, specifically elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) and staghorn coral. (A. cervicornis).

It is fascinating to learn that on the micro scale the predatory behavior of coral crabs like Cymo melanodactylus are harmful but at the large ecosystem scale their efforts amount to surgical grazing, removing disease flesh to make an overall healthier colony.

filbie70 · Dec 12, 2016

Better pics @Roboson, @Salty1962

filbie70 · Dec 12, 2016

filbie70 · Dec 12, 2016

Another thought is Blue Eyed Crab, considered an SPS parasite. Any help is appreciated

filbie70 · Dec 12, 2016

I'm getting the awwhhh he's cute from my wife as he is rolling around on his back.

Salty1962 · Dec 12, 2016

He's awe cute until he wipes out your colonies

ChiCity · Dec 12, 2016

It's a teddy bear crab

They're no good in a reef

filbie70 · Dec 12, 2016

I am floating him tonight. All research on the web says Blue Eyed Hairy Acro Crab ie SPS parasite. From what I am reading they only eat SPS so the fuge would be a slow death. Again thanks for any comments before he receives his final sentence tomorrow.

Roboson · Dec 12, 2016

Blue eyed crabs will eat frozen and meaty foods in the absence of their main food source. Tossing him in the sump would be better than outright flushing it.