Is this a Metroid? Or perhaps a crab?

[jamesrm]

This is really bizzarre looking. It was larger before I removed it, but prior to removal alot of soft tissue came off the shell. It was the same orange color, it looked like it had a few bulbs of algae as well near the head. After blowing off with my pipet, this is what was left.

The photos are not great, the body looks like it comes to a spade with two black, small eyes on each side of the head. They are not "crab like", but are just there. They might not be eyes, but they sure do look like it.

The legs are very slender, with two extremely small pinchers on the front set. It has been hanging around my LR grazing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/Jamesrm/IMG_20101103_163802.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/Jamesrm/IMG_20101103_163748.jpg

 

[cmor1701d]

What does the shell look like? Can you post a pic of that?

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Tough to tell, but looks like a type of gall crab to me. But the ones I've seen aren't normally out in the open too much.

 

[jamesrm]

It has got to be some kind of decorator. I caught it picking polyps off my red zoe and planting them on its shell, which had regrown a layer of red algae like material. Its going to the LFS tomorrow.

 

[mr_X]

pretty cool find.
i would keep him.

 

[mrg02d]

pretty cool find.
i would keep him.

Id also keep him! Neat little guys that like your taste in zoas just as much as you do.

Matt

 

[mr_X]

zoas....weeds of the ocean!

 

[mrg02d]

zoas....weeds of the ocean!

I wish my AOGs and Nuclear Greens would grow like weeds!

Matt

 

[jamesrm]

This is what he is:

Decorator Crab
Domecia acanthophora



He is currently residing in my sump.

 

[Greg]

Lol Metriod...
Absolutely fascinating behaviors- thanks for the link...
I would keep him-- they seem very low maintenance-- If you feel confident in being able to care for it it would be a great conversation piece.