Crab/Invert inside brain coral?

Dyngoe · 09-09-2006, 06:41 PM

Hi All,

Sorry I can't provide a picture. It's just way too small. But, I have what looks like a crab burrowed into my brain coral. Has anyone seen this before. All I can see are it's claws and they are small like a hermot crab. Thanks in advance. I will try to snap a picture.

darkliteseeker · 09-10-2006, 01:47 PM

I had the same thing in a small open brain coral after quarantine for a few days I used a pair of forceps and crushed him into his hole and then pulled him out .The coral definitely seemed happier

inwall75 · 09-10-2006, 03:06 PM

I suspect it looks like one of the following pictures. If so, it's harmless.

Paguritta - Google Image Search

Believe it or not, it's a filter feeder.

bekendbrt · 09-10-2006, 08:49 PM

That looks EXACTLY like the kind that typically burrows into the symbiotic coral on which christmas tree works grow. I know theres a thread somewhere here on them. No one knows for sure whether they actually kill the worms to make holes, so based on that knoweledge alone, I wouldn't trust it and would have it removed, in whatever way you see fit

mannyhernz · 09-10-2006, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inwall75

I suspect it looks like one of the following pictures. If so, it's harmless.

Paguritta - Google Image Search

Believe it or not, it's a filter feeder.

where do you buy those lil' guys!!!

inwall75 · 09-11-2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mannyhernz

where do you buy those lil' guys!!!

I think that you have to get lucky when you buy a coral. 99% of the time, it would be Porites coral.

inwall75 · 09-11-2006, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bekendbrt

That looks EXACTLY like the kind that typically burrows into the symbiotic coral on which christmas tree works grow. I know theres a thread somewhere here on them. No one knows for sure whether they actually kill the worms to make holes, so based on that knoweledge alone, I wouldn't trust it and would have it removed, in whatever way you see fit

It's my understanding that they only inhabit the burrows of dead Christmas tree worms. I don't think that they kill the worm. Then again, I don't know for sure.

is this a mantis or bad shrimp