Valentine Crab

[discuspro]

I call this guy Valentine Crab because it looks like it has lipstick on. It's about 1cm total length with it's claws folded

http://myweb.stedwards.edu/dholden/valentine%20crab.jpg

[Reef69]

Very cool crab..I have a frag of a tenius that looks just like that 1..

[discuspro]

Sweet, so is that what this coral is? I still haven't identified it yet.

[Reef69]

Man..i wished they sold acro crabs somewhere so i could re-stock my colonies..LOL..

Yeah Discus, it looks like a tenius to me..Move it higher to light, tenius LOVE high light..

[discuspro]

It is actually in a high light place, I took the pic with the flash on so I could get the detail on the crab.

I've got about three or four acro crabs, about two different types. If they bred that would be very awesome because I could give you some. At the moment I haven't read anything about having these crabs breed in the tank, but I'm sure it happens sometimes.

I actually have to kick off an acro crab every time I want to do tests on my Pocillopora for research, and every time one gets back on it.

[Reef69]

Man, it would be awesome to be able to breed acro crabs..LOL.. I love them, they are very unique and very cool to look at.

[Reef69]

Thought i'd post a pic of my newest addition, a gorgeous green and orange tipped A. sarmentosa..Has about 5 acro crabs in it..but i need to poke them around to take a good pic of them..

[LoneStar]

Awesome colony Diego~! I'm not a big fan of those acro crabs and I usually take them out before I put the colony in my tank but thats just me ;)

[Reef69]

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!..LOL..JK man..well, next time holla!..ill be happy to get them off your hands..

Another really cool thing are acro panda gobies.. i was lucky enough to get one in a colony of Stylophora i got at Aquatic Warehouse..One day, i took the coral out of the tank to chizzle it off the block it had as a base, and the goby jumped off and found it pn the carpet a few hours later. its amazing the amount of life you can find on colonies..

But seriously man, i want your crabs..lol

[LoneStar]

lol

next time I order or buy a colony in town I'll give you a call

[Reef69]

Dude, seriously man..in fact, ill give you some frags or something..

[LoneStar]

well depending on what I see HERE (http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=17512) I might let you know (if theres anything good left :unsure )

[Reef69]

Yeah..well, if you do..ill give you a frag or somthing for your crabs..

[gjuarez]

nice colony, diego

Discus, what type of research do you do? I read in another thread that you have a lab. sounds interesting

[Reef69]

Thanks..

[discuspro]

I'm looking at the calcification rate of Pocillopora and the effects orthophosphate concentration has upon that rate. I'm looking to see if phosphate actually causes reduction in calcification, growth of coral skeleton, or what other effects it may have on coral. It is know that phosphate can be found in coral skeleton so it seems curious that in the hobby we like to keep phosphate low, but in natural coral it is found as one of the components of the skeleton. I'm trying to see, beyond phosphate helping other unwanted algae etc to grow, if phosphate directly slows or effects in somehow the growth of coral.

By the way, I was thinking that the acro crabs would seem to be a good natural predator to red bugs if ever someone had them. Or maybe not, it was a thought.

[Reef69]

I dont think acro crabs go for redbugs...then again, i dont know..its just an opinion...it would be cool if they did though..no more interceptor..

Acro crabs do go for "the crown of thorns"..those reef destructing starfish..i guess they are the only natural predator for those starfish, lol..

[discuspro]

Wow, didn't know that!

[discuspro]

Might as well show off two other crabs of the same type

http://myweb.stedwards.edu/dholden/blue_redcrab.jpg

http://myweb.stedwards.edu/dholden/blue_redcrab2.jpg

[Reef69]

well, they do have predators, but acro crabs stand a fight when the starfish attacks their home

More info here (http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/reflib/cot-starfish/pages/cot-000.html).

[discuspro]

Also got another link, with a picture of an acro crab like my first pic.

http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/acrocrab.htm

[gjuarez]

discus, that seems very interesting. You should start a thread about it. Did you ever get a chance to read the thread that Texas TOdd started on the orthophosphate test kit? Very interesting.

[Jeff]

i have yet to see an acro crab, are they just found in acro's or any colony of sps?

[Reef69]

Yeah Jeff, most acro colonies have them (usually tenius, sarmentosa, stylophoras..etc).. Some do, some dont..