Dark Red/Black Coraline - hermits going crazy

[emmysnewtank]

So picked up some new frags and one little zoa came in with a really dark red/black type of algae encrusted on the plug. Within 15 minutes of putting the frag into the sand bed to acclimate I had 4 hermits and my emerald crab going to town trying to peel this black encrusted algae off. they literally spent all afternoon on this thing. I am sure the zoa's will be fine once they get it all off, but does anyone have any idea what this special crab treat is?

I unfortunately did not take photos prior to them getting after it.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

So picked up some new frags and one little zoa came in with a really dark red/black type of algae encrusted on the plug. Within 15 minutes of putting the frag into the sand bed to acclimate I had 4 hermits and my emerald crab going to town trying to peel this black encrusted algae off. they literally spent all afternoon on this thing. I am sure the zoa's will be fine once they get it all off, but does anyone have any idea what this special crab treat is?

I unfortunately did not take photos prior to them getting after it.

Are you sure it was coralline and not some kind of sponge? I have red coralline but my cuc doesn’t bother it.

 

[emmysnewtank]

Are you sure it was coralline and not some kind of sponge? I have red coralline but my cuc doesn’t bother it.

Not sure at all...would the cuc devour a sponge like that?

Well by the time lights went off most of whatever it was was gone and the crabs were still picking away. By the time lights come on this am, who knows how much is left. I am just hoping the little zoa will be fine.

In the pic I posted you can see the plug they are on barely has anything left, but when it went in it was completely encrusted in dark red/black. If you look close, that's a tiny emerald crab that lifted the plug out of the sand to feed off the bottom of the plug.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

Not sure at all...would the cuc devour a sponge like that?

Well by the time lights went off most of whatever it was was gone and the crabs were still picking away. By the time lights come on this am, who knows how much is left. I am just hoping the little zoa will be fine.

Not sure. Could’ve also been some kind of macro algea. Mine go crazy for the stuff. They shouldn’t bother the zoa. My nassarius **** me off trampling all over my frag rack at night but they don’t hurt anything. I have one big hermit who tried to live up there. They’re usually pretty meticulous with what they pull of a plug. What kinda zoa were they? Most mid-low end stuff will grow back even if you can’t see any tissue.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Are you sure it was coralline and not some kind of sponge? I have red coralline but my cuc doesn’t bother it.

Crabbies love the sponges. Great source of protein. I think they just instinctively go for it. I know some hermits and crabs will eat corralline but it's hard work, and I doubt it would cause a feeding frenzy like this....now delicious spongeys....