Found This Crab Tonight...

Todd31 · Sep 12, 2016

Was looking in my tank tonight after hours and found this guy in my large hammer coral. Was very easy to remove since the coral is mounted on its own rock. Could he have been causing coral damage? --todd

Untamedrose · Sep 12, 2016

Im not sure atm.... dont kill him but keep isolated

Some better photos in general and of his claws will tell a lot more

Todd31 · Sep 12, 2016

super close up... so furry its hard to see.... but it looks like sharp black tips to me.

Roboson · Sep 12, 2016

It's a teddy bear crab. A very pretty one at that. Don't kill it, they're a really great find. They aren't reef safe, but they're really great sump pets.

Roboson · Sep 12, 2016

They eat other crabs and snails, I don't think they would have been trying to damage your hammer.

WetWhistle · Sep 12, 2016

General rule for crabs I find is if it is hairy you should be weary as they are not generally reef safe. Great to go in a species tank.

Todd31 · Sep 12, 2016

I can put him in the sump but would he get enough food to eat? I have been having intermittent zoa problems over the last few months. i lose some, some stay closed. Could teddy be a zoa trouble maker?

WetWhistle · Sep 12, 2016

They are opportunistic feeders and would feast on zoes.

Roboson · Sep 12, 2016

Sump him. They eat mostly crabs and snails, but he could eat Zoas if he was desperate.

Todd31 · Sep 12, 2016

now that i think of it i think i have had a decrease in hermits lately...

Roboson · Sep 12, 2016

Honestly he's a cool guy. I think he'd make a very nice sump pet. And if you toss him a little food now and again, he should be fine down there. Better than flushing him.

Todd31 · Sep 12, 2016

Yep i'm not into flushing. I'll figure out some sort of a container situation to keep him in the sump and see if anyone local to me likes these guys...