Decorator Crabs

[pupeluv]

I know I could ask at my excellent lfs, but why do that when I could waste time at work on the internet?

I'll be receiving a couple of decorator crabs in a few weeks. Two questions:

Do they need replacement shells like hermit crabs?

What is your experience on decorator crabs' aggressiveness?

I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.

 

[Anemone]

Kelly,

They're not particularly aggressive - at least toward fish, but you probably don't want them in a reef. They don't use shells (ala hermit crabs), but are called decorator crabs because the pull off pieces of just about everything and stick it to their bodies. The "just about everything" includes macro algae, sponge, and pieces of coral. Being shredded and used as clothing is generally not a good thing for a coral.....

Kevin

 

[EmilyB]

Kelly, I had one for about a year, her name was Martha Stewart. They don't wear a shell, but decorate themselves, as Anemone said. However, mine didn't seem to bother the corals I had, and preferred to wear junk. She was a real bag lady and quite funny. Died after a year of unknown causes. Big eater of bristleworms.

They like sponges and sand polyps a lot I gather. I never had either.

 

[pupeluv]

Emily, thanks for the pic! I thought they were more like hermit crabs, but maybe I'm thinking of something else. I have plenty of bristleworms, so they should be able to munch on those. Do you guys think they'd be okay with seahorses or should I put them in another tank?

 

[yznhmr]

mine kept helping me frag my leathers..( i didnt need any help)damn crab would clip my biggest leather off at the base, wear it till it fell off and almost died then move to the next., i got rid of the bast@rd and every thing came back o life..

 

[suckair]

I have decorator crabs in both of my reefs. I have never had a problem with them.. The crab in my reef @ home likes the gray sponges that grow all over and keeps himself covered with them all the time.. The one at the reef@work likes the sea squirts and has little ones on each of his legs. I have leather corals in both systems and have never had a problem with either crab. The crab at home did like the green star polyps but those things grow so fast who cares if he gets a few..

I think they are a cool and interesting part of a reef. Is fun to get out a flash light after the lights go out and find them.

Randall

 

[reefland]

This decorator crab blends in pretty well. Hard to see where the crab ends and the rock starts.