Pom Pom crab stealing my rock nem

LovesDogs_CatsRokay · Nov 3, 2018

What is my pom pom crab doing? She has balled up my rock nem that’s 3 times her size, pulled it off the rock, and is carrying it around the tank? What is she doing? She has both her own anemones. She doesn’t need mine!

kchristensen8064 · Nov 3, 2018

This is hilarious, I have a pom pom in my anemone tank with a BTA and a few RFAs. I don't know what I would do if I saw it doing this with one of my RFAs. A while back mine shed and lost one of its own anemones, so it found an aptasia that the Peppermints hadn't taken care of yet and carried that around for a while. Hopefully yours realizes that your RFA may be a little big for it to carry around at put it back.

LovesDogs_CatsRokay · Nov 3, 2018

My husband tried to knock her off of it and she started fighting him for it. Tried to sting him with her pom poms! She’s now carried the rock nem into a cave and is still holding it. I hope she brings it back out!

kchristensen8064 · Nov 3, 2018

You have a hostage situation! Hopefully the pom poms demands aren't too unreasonable.

Gareth elliott · Nov 3, 2018

[emoji23] if tank is large enough could add another pom pom crab. If the added one has 2 anemones the other one might steal one of his and use that instead.

Oscaror · Nov 3, 2018

LOL hope he takes good care of his new pet ;Hilarious

LovesDogs_CatsRokay · Nov 3, 2018

Gareth elliott said:
[emoji23] if tank is large enough could add another pom pom crab. If the added one has 2 anemones the other one might steal one of his and use that instead.

She already has two anemones! In fact a couple weeks ago she let one go and ripped the remaining one in half!

Oscaror · Nov 3, 2018

LovesDogs_CatsRokay said:
She already has two anemones! In fact a couple weeks ago she let one go and ripped the remaining one in half!

Think about it like this, it'll be way easier to spot the crab now that it's dragging around a bright red anemone 3 times its size

LovesDogs_CatsRokay · Nov 3, 2018

Well she finally dropped it. It looks like it attached itself just inside the entrance to a cave. Will it crawl back out on its own to get some light?

kchristensen8064 · Nov 3, 2018

LovesDogs_CatsRokay said:
Well she finally dropped it. It looks like it attached itself just inside the entrance to a cave. Will it crawl back out on its own to get some light?

Yeah it should, it'll move until it's happy again.

PiscesPower · Nov 3, 2018

That is awesome! Pom Pom just wanted to accessorize with some color!!!

LovesDogs_CatsRokay · Nov 3, 2018

Guess she’s not giving it up. Now she’s sitting on top of it inside the cave.

CuseReefer84 · Nov 6, 2018

Lol, she broke out the big guns! [emoji23] this is pretty comical to see.

Katrina71 · Nov 6, 2018

I actually want one of these now. It made me laugh! My LFS was telling me I'd probably love one. Your story proves it. I understand all crabs can be opportunistic, but anything I should know in particular?

kchristensen8064 · Nov 6, 2018

Katrina71 said:
I actually want one of these now. It made me laugh! My LFS was telling me I'd probably love one. Your story proves it. I understand all crabs can be opportunistic, but anything I should know in particular?

Mines been a model citizen. Although I don't see it much. Really cool to look at when it's out but that's not very often.

Katrina71 · Nov 6, 2018

My decorator is always out. I have very small fish. I hope this little guy would be the same.

Leslie Tabor · Nov 6, 2018

Hahaha I LOVE this! Especially that she was fighting your hubby for it! I think it is awesome that you aren't freaking out, writing the pom poms eviction notice. Watching these little critters do what they do is amazing, and HILARIOUS!

Gareth elliott · Nov 6, 2018

Katrina71 said:
I actually want one of these now. It made me laugh! My LFS was telling me I'd probably love one. Your story proves it. I understand all crabs can be opportunistic, but anything I should know in particular?

I have 3, added something to watch after the lights go out. Havent noticed any coral issues from them. Also i dont have any anemones so havent seen them keeping pets [emoji23]

Katrina71 · Nov 6, 2018

Gareth elliott said:
I have 3, added something to watch after the lights go out. Havent noticed any coral issues from them. Also i dont have any anemones so havent seen them keeping pets [emoji23]

I have 4 RFAs...I wouldn't mind letting it do what it does.

Gareth elliott · Nov 6, 2018

Katrina71 said:
I have 4 RFAs...I wouldn't mind letting it do what it does.

They dont really pay attention to one another. So not like adding multiple territorial shrimp.
They never really let go of their anemones, so claws are not really a worry like other crabs. If losses one during a molt will split their other or steal one from another crab. So their danger to fish is more related to being pestered and it punching one in defense.(no idea if this would harm or just deter tbh if happened) I only have a clown pair, a fairy wrasse, and a dwarf angel most recently; nothing that is really actively hunting my cuc. So havent had any issues. They do hide a lot but not like other inverts or fish you never see.(stupid whiptail catfish in my planted lol)