Emerald Crab & Hammer Coral

[nxb161]

The past two nights I've been doing some sneaking around the tanks to see what I can spy on. Both nights my emerald crab has been all over my hammer coral. I can't quite tell what he is doing (my guy has no claws, got him that way) Would an emerald crab snack on a hammer coral? Also I noticed his belly was very orange, maybe they're just like that and I didn't notice, but I think I would have noticed something like that.

[melosu58]

I personally dont think it would snack on the hammer. I do think it would munch on bits of algea and food between the heads and polyps.

[thincat]

Do you notice any damage? I think Mike got is right on target.

[cmor1701d]

Mike is always on target (except for when I [rarely] disagree with him).
+1 for algae eating.

[nxb161]

Can anyone tell me what's going on with this bubble in my hammer coral. I can think of 3 things, the clown fish bugging it all the time, the emerald crab irritating it, or maybe that's just something they do.

[mrg02d]

He may have caught something and is digesting it. That looks to be where the mouth is on those things.

They just close up when irritated.

Matt

[thincat]

Yeah I have to agree. it's not fatal and you should just watch it. It happens with either to much light or to much flow, but non is fatal.

[nxb161]

Thanks for the replies. He hasn't been moved for a couple months, and either has my powerhead. Maybe the 'flow' was caused by the clown and crab pestering it.

[thincat]

The crab is an algae eater so if there is not enough flow some algae may have grown and this is the reason the crab is picking that itl.;