I got crabs

[Icky]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/565/103151Birdsnest_Acro_Crab.jpg
I bought a pink bird’s nest from the Salty Critter about the size of a baseball with 3 crabs living in it. A piece broke off while transporting it home so I mounted it (I need to work on my mounting skills) and placed it at the bottom of my tank. After a few weeks I moved it up off the sand and on to the live rock. Then a few days later I took this picture with one of the crabs I believe to be from the mother colony living in/near it. I only see one living in the mother now. The interesting thing is that the frag has been at least 3 feet away from the mother colony and not really easy to get to (or at least I see it that way) the whole time and with Arco colonies along the way before reaching this frag. I know the picture isn’t of the best quality (taken after lights out with a flashlight and no tripod), but could someone identify this crab? Is this a coincidence or does this crab specifically live in Pink Bird’s Nest (Seriatopora hystrix) corals. Or is this a bad crab that I need to get rid of?

This frag has been growing well with many new growths coming out of it.

-rIcky

[mattyice]

well im not sure if it is a bad crab or not but if you catch them alive i know my mantis shrimp be more then happy to take them off of your hands

[saltycritter]

It is a good crab that lives in association with SPS- Acropora, etc. Corals. I don't know alot of detailed info about them. It seems science knows only a little bit as well. There are theory's on what they eat, etc.. Someone like an Eric Bornemon, or Anthony Calfo would be able to answer your technical questions better than I. Next time your in the store I can share my general observations of these crabs with you if you would like.
Dan

[shawnz28]

Typically the SPS crabs that are a problem look the ones below and are often referred to as Teddy Bear crabs and eat the tissue of acros espically around the growth areas. They are hairy where the ones that are the "good" variant which are often reffered to as Bandit Crabs are almost always smooth. The species of crabs that come in with birdsnest and pocillipora tend be or become larger than the little ones found in acropora.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/P2210005.jpg