coral eating crab?

[beeholtz]

i have had 2 ricordeas get eaten by something and i recently found this hitchhiker in my tank and just got it out... any ideas what it could be?

 

[Sadielynn]

Looks like a rock crab, one black claw indicates that he may well snag a sleeping fish and may well pick at zoas , but as it grows may go for a larger prize such as the fish i mentioned. If you have out, give away or banish to a sump.

 

[ccCapt]

This is a crab I caught eating the tips off my acropora validia. Looks very similar to yours. I put it in my sump.

 

[Sadielynn]

This is a crab I caught eating the tips off my acropora validia. Looks very similar to yours. I put it in my sump.

Are you sure you werent making dinner with him LOL

 

[sqrle]

I don't know how many of these I have come across since starting my SW tank some time ago. I would have to say at least a dozen from 65lbs. They all migrated into the sump. The only crabs that i keep in the DT are ones that I keep in the DT are emeralds.

 

[juice28]

I guess that one good thing to living in oklahoma lol.. the LR I get never has any hitchhikers. I guess it goes through so many hands that by the time my LFS gets it and cures it its just..algae on it..you miayg et a mushroom or two but that about it.. and an aptasia but i dont think its possible to rid the rocks completley of those.. i kill 1 and see 2 more...