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View Full Version : My Conundrum and help with a Verdict


Reeses
02/22/2006, 08:42 PM
Gooooooood evening all,

I have a quandary, and would like opinions. My coral beauty has within the last 6 or 8 weeks or so has been getting her butt kicked by some creature in my tank. At first I thought that my sally lightfoot was to blame, and I was getting ready to go trade it in. However, as I was feeding my brittle star tonight, I saw a very hungry visitor that I haven't seen since last year. I think it's one of those "teddy bear" crabs. Last time I laid eyes on it, it appeared to be no bigger than a dime, so I didn't make an effort to catch it. The size of it now startled me a little, so I made the effort to catch it. It's a wee bit longer than a quarter.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/81213DSCN0489.jpg


Here's one that shows it's markings:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/81213Untitled-2_copy.jpg

and I managed to snap one really good pick of it. It's almost impossible to see it when it's in the sand.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/81213DSCN0518.jpg

Sooooooo....the thing is, while poking at it in the container I put it in, it seems extremely shy and downright non aggressive. It hasn't made a single move to even suggest aggressiveness. Is your money on this bugger or my sally lightfoot? I really like him, and don't want to banish him right now if possible. I know his claws don't look "friendly" and that hairy crabs are considered "not good". But I'm having a hard time believing that this is the creature that's causing the damage on my beauty. Your thoughts?

Thanks all, and much appreciated!

artful-dodger
02/22/2006, 08:45 PM
move him to the sump and see if the CB recovers

Reeses
02/22/2006, 08:49 PM
The CB always recovers (so far), she just shows up in the mornings sometimes with cuts and abrasions. They all heal in 2 or 3 days with no problems. :)

I forgot to mention that my beauty is at full size, or just about there.

RamPuppy
02/22/2006, 09:25 PM
maybe some sort of gorilla crab, but most likely not a teddy bear crab, for one teddy bears are a lot hairier, and they are a sort of pom pom crab, i.e they carry anemones around in their claws.

doesn't look like a teddybear to me.