Emerald Crabs?

[ASpec]

Will emerald crabs eat serpant stars?

I ask because last night my serpant star was hanging out as he always did about an hour after lights out... This morning I found him in peices. Then I see an emerald crab having his legs for a snack!

I had no idea I even had this emerald crab until today... must have been a hitchhiker with the LR.com order (as was the serpant star).

Is this normal marine life activity? I assume it's just part of nature, but thought I'd check with the forum as well.


Thanks

 

[lando]

I have two in my 72gal. They happily clean the rock and between coral polyps. I have a sandsifter and a bunch of tiny brittle stars and they have never bothered them.

 

[i have crabs]

shure its an emerald and not a rock crab
how new is the serpent star

 

[quarryshark]

Could be that the serpent was dying and the crab is just cleaning up. Or, it may not be an emerald crab since its a hitchhiker. Can you get a pic of him? Are his claws kind of cup shaped?

 

[ASpec]

The serpant star was a hitchhiker as well. I'll try and get a picture of the crab. He's staying close to the rock right now.

He has hairy legs and is a brown'ish color.

 

[EL Diablo]

I had those same hitcher crabs from LR.com

if they are Hairy, brown or red with black tipped Claws, they are rock crabs and are not reef safe.

I got rid of mine recently with a trap.

 

[ASpec]

Yep, sounds like a rock crab.

I was not sure he was an emerald, but I could not find anything else that looked similar so I assumed it was an emerald.

So... now that we know it's a rock crab, would it have had my serpant star for breakfast?

And how do I get rid of it? I went to take a picture and it was gone. Today was the first day I've ever seen it so I doubt it will be around again anytime soon; and I've had this rock for over 2 months!