Acro Crabs

[Reefer4ever]

What are all of your opinions on acro crabs? The little red ones, or white ones with a black stripe over its eye. I think they are cool, but I'm not sure how safe they are. I would be afraid of the crabs eating or picking at polyps. How many of you MAASTards have them in your acropora colonies? The main reasons I want them is because I have always liked symbiotic relationships(clown/anemone, pistol/goby, crab/sps, etc) and I think they are cute. Please let me know what you think about this. :)

Also, I wasn't sure if this was to be posted in the sps or invert forum, so please move it, if necessary.

PS: I have a sexy shrimp and an anemone shrimp. Will these guys be safe?

[jrnannery]

According to all of the sources I have read, and I have NOT read them all, acro crabs are extremely beneficial to the host coral. The coral will live longer, grow faster, etc. The crabs are reported to control red bugs, but I haven't seen an article yet about AEFW, or other flat worms. Not that it doesn't exist, I just haven't read one yet. Literally search 'Acro Crab' on Google, and you will find a host of information, all of which I have bothered to read so far is positive. Oh, and here is a link to where you can buy them.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+2914&pcatid=2914

Cheers
Richard

[Reefer4ever]

I have heard a lot of good things about them. I actually just google searched them, but I wanted first-hand experience stories from people I(kind of) know. I saw a little red one at TT&M in a birdsnest colony that I found in a live rock tank with no light. :( Though the birdsnest was bleached out in some areas, I asked them to move the colony into a tank with light, for the sake of the coral and the crab that needs the coral for survival. I'm pretty sure they didn't move it, but, the little red ones work right? So, maybe I can ask for it, if its still there, next time?

[Big_Pun]

I have one very healthy acro with a crab, the don't touch anything on it, seems to grab stuff floating around. the acro is it's home so it's not going to kill it. there is no real evidence what they eat but I know they die fast once removed from the acro.

[jrnannery]

^^ Agreed on the mortality, from reading.