My emerald crab has fleas?!

[SFREEF3R]

But seriously - there appear to be some sort of small crustaceans swarming over the claws of my emerald crab. I was amazed to see how many there are and how fast they move! I'm not sure if they are causing any harm to the crab, nor what I would do to treat them if they were.

I've seen similar reports in a couple of older postings on R2R and other forums, though I haven't seen any sort of definitive ID. Anyone know what these are?

Video1:

Video2:

 

[mrlavalamp]

looks like some type of pods.

 

[Aboynamedsous2]

I’m not an expert but I think it’s larvae from the crab. It doesn’t seem to be irritated. Do you have multiple crabs and how long have you had it?

 

[SFREEF3R]

I’m not an expert but I think it’s larvae from the crab. It doesn’t seem to be irritated. Do you have multiple crabs and how long have you had it?

Just the one emerald crab (I also have a porcelain crab and several hermits, but I assume you mean of the same species). Have had it for just over 4 months.

 

[Aboynamedsous2]

Probably pods like the other guy said.

 

[SFREEF3R]

Probably pods like the other guy said.

Could be. I noticed there were several other posts where folks had noticed this phenomenon. I wasn't sure if there was a specific species that was known to be commensal or parasitic with emerald crabs

 

[bnord]

seems to be a pattern and not random
very cool and clever observation - like it

and nice pictures, what is you camera arrangement?

 

[SFREEF3R]

seems to be a pattern and not random
very cool and clever observation - like it

and nice pictures, what is you camera arrangement?

Thanks! These were taken with an iPhone 13 Pro Max

 

[Arcticreef]

Late to the thread....but I agree with a @Aboynamedsous2. Just found these in my tank and identified them as crab lavae under a microscope. Waiting to see what they will do if they grow. Did you get a crab explosion in your tank a few months later?

 

[SFREEF3R]

Late to the thread....but I agree with a @Aboynamedsous2. Just found these in my tank and identified them as crab lavae under a microscope. Waiting to see what they will do if they grow. Did you get a crab explosion in your tank a few months later?

I never found anymore crabs. I haven't seen my emerald for a while. I'll have to look next time I see him to see if he still has them.