BAD Crab

[Reefdiver77]

I was sitting staring at my tank about MN last night. My pink pocillapora (sp??) had fallen into the sand and I had put it up on its' usual ledge earlier in the evening. I noticed some white areas showing, where it was obvious the polyps were MIA. I thought for a second I saw a worm waving about and got my magnifying glass in an attempt to ID it. After several minutes I backed away from the tank and much to my surprise, a gorilla crab was staring me in the face, while he munched away on the coral with both claws. He was stripping the polyps off and eating them. I grabbed the coral with him in it and chunked him in the trash. However I felt bad and scooped him up and put him in my sump. I guess he has probably been in my tank since I put the liverock in 3 years ago last month. Could this be possible. I have lost a few small SPS in this tank to what I though was bleaching, but now wonder if he was the culprit. He really was fun to watch but not at the expense of my SPS.

[Codeman00]

Sure its possible. I had 2 red eye xanthid crabs that hitched in from a friends live rock. His tank was set up for a couple years and never knew they were there.

[MarineFlake]

You know you got crabs when you have gorilla crabs...I don't know...Seemed funny in my head.

[aharvey]

I have a dedicated bad crag tank if he needs a home!