Decorator Crab?

[Anonymous]

I am reading conflicting reports on the net. Is this reef compatible or not? I really like the neato behavior of decorator crabs, and would like to keep one (Xenocarcinus sp.) in my reef aquarium.

Thanks!
-me

 

[Len]

You're reading conflicting reports because people have conflicting experiences with decorators Some are perfectly well behaved, some will do minor damage to corals by trying to steal food from them. They won't wreck your tank, but when I tried one a long time ago, it kept bugging my brain and bubble coral.

 

[Anonymous]

Hm there seem to be more than a few species going by the common name decorator crab. Anyone have experience with the Xenocarcinus sp. ? I'd like to stock that one as I am going to an Indo-pacific kind of thing.

Thanks!
-me

 

[fungia]

me me!

i have a decorator that looks like the genus you posted and it is perfect citizen.

 

[Anonymous]

sweet. it's on my list of species to try.

thanks guys!

 

[fishfanatic2]

I've always wanted one of those!

 

[Secam]

I tried a Decorator Crab. Within 2 minutes he was eating a Feather Duster. Back to the LFS with him. I looked up a picture of Xenocarcinus and he did not look like that. He looked like the one in this picture.

 

[Secam]

I tried a Decorator Crab. Within 2 minutes he was eating a Feather Duster. Back to the LFS with him. I looked up a picture of Xenocarcinus and he did not look like that. He looked like the one in this picture.

 

[Anonymous]

sweet. thanks for the response, secam. i'll try to avoid that kind of crab. ps got a latin name for that one? i can't follow the pic URL backwards cuz this site pulls them out of a db or something funky with their php dealio. *grr*

 

[Secam]

The Latin name for this crab is "Camposcia retusa".

 

[Anonymous]

oo thanks! i was eyeing that one up, and that was specifically the one i heard conflicting info about!