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losing zoas....need crab id
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:45 am
by briguy44
So the past few weeks i have slowly been loosing my zoa frags one by one. I do not know what is eating them but something is defiantly having a midnight snack quite often. I got some pictures of a crab hitchhiker. I am wondering if anybody can id this crab and if it is the likely culprit. I realize they aren't the best pictures but I am not so good at the close up shots.
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Re: losing zoas....need crab id
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:58 am
by J-P
well I can say beyond a doubt that it is a "smudge". Without a better pic ID is impossible. Or even remove it from the tank and take a pic.
1) you are correct that crabs will eat your livestock.
2) You're feeding it nicely either keep up the good work or rehome the crab
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/ <== check hitchhiker / crabs
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/crabs.html <== an article with PDF link
Also on htat page is a DL link to a PDF. It is a HUGE file and I have that book also myself. It is the most documented extensive crab index available now. If you should be able to find it in there (as you have seen your little guy fist hand).
Re: losing zoas....need crab id
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:20 am
by briguy44
here are a few that are more clear..........
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Re: losing zoas....need crab id
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:59 am
by J-P
Baptozious vinosus ?? but they get big
Definitely a pea crab of some kind.
I assume that the LR came from the Indo Pacific (probably Bali)?
Re: losing zoas....need crab id
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:56 am
by Pufferpunk
Does he have black claws?
Re: losing zoas....need crab id
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:36 pm
by sevenyearnight
Omg, he's cute! I'd name Beefy-Beefy. He looks like a scrapper.
Re: losing zoas....need crab id
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:01 pm
by briguy44
Pufferpunk wrote:Does he have black claws?
Nope his claws are the same color as the rest of his body. I sumped his butt this morning because I am sick of loosing all of my frags. I am sure that it is either this guy or my peppermint shrimp. I tried to catch the shrimp for hours last night with no luck. I guess I will try again tonight.
Re: losing zoas....need crab id
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:51 pm
by geronimo69
briguy44 wrote:Pufferpunk wrote:Does he have black claws?
Nope his claws are the same color as the rest of his body. I sumped his butt this morning because I am sick of loosing all of my frags. I am sure that it is either this guy or my peppermint shrimp. I tried to catch the shrimp for hours last night with no luck. I guess I will try again tonight.
From my experience the shrimp won't touch your zoas (I've had 4-5 in my tank before, never touched a zoa).... They do take out small aiptasia, but preferred the pellets I fed over anything else.