Crab On New Monti Digitata

Cdog

Cdog

New Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2014
Location
Kitchener, Ontario
Woke up this morning at 4:30 am ( thanks to my work schedule during the week ) and went down to check the new monti i purchased yesterday, with all the lights off and a led flash light i see a crab munching on the monti.
nothing like looking for my lugols iodine at 4:30 in the morning that i hidden somewhere 8 years ago.
after finding it in my wifes book shelf and proceeding to give the monti a 3 minute bath in a iodine and tank water mixture the crab fell off to his death.

Shows to tell you, never throw anything out because of leaving the hobby for a few years, LOL
 
reefgeek

reefgeek

Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2014
Location
Barrie, Ontario
Is he fuzy or smooth? Fuzy and it could have been a 'teddy bear' crab which is an acro eating crab (eats the polyps). That's the best I can think of in terms of a polyp eating crab, shouldn't be on a monti though as they tend to stay in acros for safety.
 
R

Reef Hero

Super Active Member
Joined
May 27, 2012
Location
Lucan
I have seen many wild sps come in with crab like creatures on them. And yes they were all picking away at the coral.....
Just because most crabs don't eat coral or a specific type of coral does not mean that they won't or can't.... Species can adapt and change..... In the wild when the only food source is coral then it's eat or die and once they develop a taste for it, there's no turning back. I tried keeping hermit crabs by eventually they all started to eat my softies.... Maybe because I don't keep them fed enough.... Not sure.... I've heard of tangs developing a taste for corals too..... In this hobby there is no limits and anything can be a possibility..... I've always said that if you see a crab like creature on a piece of sps jut get rid of it right away because chance are that it's their for a food source.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
jroovers

jroovers

Super Active Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2012
Location
London
I had a gorilla crab that lived under my undata in my 120. He would eat the edge to keep the cave opening big enough for him to move in and out, and he would also come out and eat the undata in other spots, amongst other SPS. You can see the bit area to the upper right of centre.

8234713593_78166448c9_c.jpg
 
scubasteve

scubasteve

Distinguished Member
Joined
May 4, 2014
Location
Cambridge, Ontario
Reef Hero said:
I have seen many wild sps come in with crab like creatures on them. And yes they were all picking away at the coral.....
Just because most crabs don't eat coral or a specific type of coral does not mean that they won't or can't.... Species can adapt and change..... In the wild when the only food source is coral then it's eat or die and once they develop a taste for it, there's no turning back. I tried keeping hermit crabs by eventually they all started to eat my softies.... Maybe because I don't keep them fed enough.... Not sure.... I've heard of tangs developing a taste for corals too..... In this hobby there is no limits and anything can be a possibility..... I've always said that if you see a crab like creature on a piece of sps jut get rid of it right away because chance are that it's their for a food source.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Normally that happens from improper diet for the species if they lack something in their diet they look elswhere if you meet their demand they have no need but it can happen when not properly fed and with him saying his new monti from yesterday im assuming its a hitch hiking pest and not one of his crabs hence why i asked
 
Last edited:
R

Reef Hero

Super Active Member
Joined
May 27, 2012
Location
Lucan
scubasteve said:
Normally that happens from improper diet for the species if they lack something in their diet they look elswhere if you meet their demand they have no need but it can happen when not properly fed and with him saying his new monti from yesterday im assuming its a hitch hiking pest and not one of his crabs hence why i asked
Click to expand...

I will agree for the most part but it can still happen out of the blue too and not necessarily because they are being given an improper diet but just simply "because"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top