What is this????

[spsphreak]

I found this thing leached to one of my new staghorns tonight! At first I thought it was a glob of dirt that had gotten stuck on the coral, but then I saw it moving. It moves like a crab and looked like it had six legs (could have been 8). It was VERY camouflaged, the colors were light brown and cream, sand colors. Any help is greatly appreciated!

http://scott.smugmug.com/photos/39342/39342-Medium.jpg

http://scott.smugmug.com/photos/39343/39343-Medium.jpg

[beerguy]

Not sure what it is, but I'd yank it like you're starting a mower.

[Mike_Noren]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by spsphreak
I found this thing leached to one of my new staghorns tonight!

It's a decorator crab.

[rshimek]

Hi,

Mike is correct. [thanks]

It is a crab in the taxonomic group called the Family Majidae. These go by the common names of decorator or spider crab. Many species in this group have stiff curved hairs (sorta like velcro) on their backs and elsewhere and they stick sponges, algae, etc., in them, presumably for camouflage. Hence, the name "decorator" crabs.

They also tend to have long thin legs, hence the name "spider" crabs.

Most majids tend to be omnivores with a tendency to eat algae as well as flesh. In this regard they are probably a bit less destructive in tanks than are the standard crabs. On the other hand, they tend to "pluck" things off to use for decoration, so they may be a problem in this regard.

:D

[spsphreak]

Thanks alot Dr., and everyone else. I put him in my refugium, so I guess he will be happy there, from the information you gave me.
Again, thanks so much for the information!

Scott