Can acro crabs live without acropora?

[Bugeater281]

So I work at an lfs. And i take care of our coral tanks. We got some nice colonies of acros in and I found two crabs. One I know is safe(the other I’m still researching). But they want all potential threats removed. So I brought the two home.

I actually just set up an sps tank, but it’s not quite ready for coral. My other tank has some coral, but no acros yet(tank got nuked 6-8months ago, ac powerhead had a crack in the wire shielding, leached some copper, it’s undetectable now). I plan on getting some new acros here soon.

I know people may not be able to answer the question. But I’m curious if anyone know if an acro crab can live without acros? Only fish in this tank is a purple tang. I’d like to get a 6-line(have some white flatworms).

 

[Doctorgori]

I had a few of those but lost them when the host acro died...no clue where they went or what happened ... my sample 2 cents says I doubt it

 

[Big E]

The white crabs with the black masks will die without the acro..........they can last maybe 2 weeks and then need to get put back in.

Red crabs 1" or so in diameter in pocillipora verracussa were common in wild colonies and they wouldn't even make it a few days without the host.

It's been quite some time since I've seen good crabs in acros as I think most are getting killed before the colonies go up for sale.

 

[Doctorgori]

I seem to get the white ones with red polka dots ... they are pretty hardy, but no clue what their biology is about.

 

[Bugeater281]

The white crabs with the black masks will die without the acro..........they can last maybe 2 weeks and then need to get put back in.

Red crabs 1" or so in diameter in pocillipora verracussa were common in wild colonies and they wouldn't even make it a few days without the host.

It's been quite some time since I've seen good crabs in acros as I think most are getting killed before the colonies go up for sale.

Figured I’d update on this. It’s been over a month since I put the acro crabs in.

Added an acro around 2 weeks ago.

And an acro crab showed up on it a couple days ago. So they can live at least a month without an acro.

 

[Rmckoy]

I’ve been looking for acro crabs but can’t find them anywhere .

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

Makes me wonder if the acro crabs eat acro pests? Personally I would like some of these for my acros.

 

[Mike konesky]

Yes they can. Have had one wandering around a lps system for months.

 

[Bugeater281]

My favorite part is watching the one guy fly around the coral and put his claws up at me when I approach the tank.

Pretty sure I added 6 of them. So I’m curious if any others are still in there. Was hoping they would nest in my montis.

 

[Doctorgori]

I’ve had several ...recently killed the last one ...absolutely no clue how to get them on purpose

 

[Big E]

Figured I’d update on this. It’s been over a month since I put the acro crabs in.

Added an acro around 2 weeks ago.

And an acro crab showed up on it a couple days ago. So they can live at least a month without an acro.

Are these the white crabs with the black mask? Or some other type of crabs?

 

[Bugeater281]

Are these the white crabs with the black mask? Or some other type of crabs?

The bandits, aka trapizia. So yes the black mask ones.

 

[Big E]

ok, I only had seen the pure white ones with the mask and only in acros. Years ago when I treated for red bugs I took them out and they lived for two weeks fine. Outside of that they were dying without the host.

Glad it's working out for you