Little tiny crab in Acoropora -

[Sea Serpent]

I received a beautiful Acoropora from FFE today - went home at lunch to acclimate. During the lugol's dip (I always dip before putting in my tank) I found a tiny little white crab which was obviously a little commensal crab. I felt bad for the little guy - I am sure that the dip killed him . . .

So, to dip or not to dip. That is the question from now on .. .

What do you think? The dip is to keep parasites and infection down .. . but the little crab wouldn't have hurt anything.

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
The crab won't hurt anything. I usually don't dip a coral if I see a crab in there. It is almost impossible to remove it/them by using tweezers. If you do dip it, you maybe able to save the crab if you bring it back to salt water quickly, instead of let it set in the dip... don't know.

I have two identical colonies, one with crab, one don't. The one with crab have more space between the branches. Don't know if the crab has anything to do with it, but water flow thru it better with the spaces. Also less debris in the Acrop with crab.

 

[EmilyB]

I have a beautiful acro (well birdsnest) crab. Unfortunately his birdsnest died. He is very tame and I feel sad he has no branching coral anymore. He lives in a hole in the rock where his birdsnest used to be, as if waiting for it to return. I should rent a birdsnest for him to jump into

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
I have an empty birdnest looking for resident... too bad you are in Canada, otherwise I may want to talk to you about your crab.

 

[Mouse]

Ahhh, you have one of natures fearless protectors. There major cool

Shame he got Hyposalinated

Allways a big consideration, to dip or not to dip. But in the case of corals i would say that the bad things you hope to kill by dipping could potentially wipe out the whole tank.

Whereas something beneficial, like the crab, is localised to that coral.

Therefore id say dip.

[ April 24, 2002: Message edited by: Mouse ]</p>

 

[slojmn1]

I recently dipped a coral head with two commensural crabs. I didn't notice them till after the dip. The little guys are totally alive. I dip in an iodine/saltwater dip for 20 minutes. Still not sure how they made it but they did. One of them is quite el.usive and really blends in with the colony so sometimes I wonder about him, then I spot him in a different nook. The other guy is very active. I guess I got lucky.

 

[EmilyB]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Seven Ephors:
<strong>hi.
I have an empty birdnest looking for resident... too bad you are in Canada, otherwise I may want to talk to you about your crab.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Wish I could share crab with you too.