acro crab, angel or devil?

[merseyman]

What's the consensus on coral crabs: good, bad, or neutral? Just noticed one on my new acro colony. Cheers

[wrott]

It could be a good one or bad. The white, hairless bandit (it has a black "mask" over its face) crabs are good.
I've had other "acro" crabs that ate the coral--usually hairy w/ red or green eyes (shine a light at it at night).

[useskaforevil]

i say good, as logn as they really are acro crabs. i have 2 little purple one with white claws. never noticed them being bad. but they're still small

[davocean]

Hairless=angel
hairy=devil
That's pretty much the general rule

[Paintbug]

since it came with the acros, more than likely its an acro crab. the corals will usually do better with the crabs on them, than corals with out. the crabs help keep the coral clean, and predator free.

[twon8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9922019#post9922019 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wrott
It could be a good one or bad. The white, hairless bandit (it has a black "mask" over its face) crabs are good.
I've had other "acro" crabs that ate the coral--usually hairy w/ red or green eyes (shine a light at it at night).

they are not always white, i have a pair of red ones and have seen black ones, but they are the same bandit crab, bar across the face.

[merseyman]

... i think it's one of the slick "good guys". colony seems to be doing we so far, and i belong to the "ain't broke, don't fix it" school of thought, so i'll let it be for now. thanks.

[LeslieH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9924829#post9924829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davocean
Hairless=angel
hairy=devil
That's pretty much the general rule

Too bad it's not true. :) neither is "if it's got black-tipped claws it's bad"

[davocean]

That's why I said "pretty much", and "general" rule of thumb.
There always seems to be an exception.
One of our local reefers here just posted one of the hairy ones that came on an acro, kinda looks like a cross between a crab and the wolfman, those are bad.

[davocean]

This is a lame pic, but may give you an idea of the bad one.
You may be able to make out the hair on this guy.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/mermail/Fuzzy20crab.jpg

[merseyman]

... my guy is orangish, w/ some darker markings, no hair/fuzziness at all. Bought a 1/4-1/3 of an inch. I'll try and get a photo, but he's hunkered down deep in the branches.

[Tang Salad]

The good type is very easy to identify.
Just Google for a picture of it.

[seansod]

It depends on the crab. I have seen the "bad" ones be good and the "good" ones being bad. You just need to watch them and remove if they act up.

Tony

[navipro1]

I have both and they seem to be doing ok on the acro.