Chalice got crabs?

[KLR]

I just want to tell evey chalice collector out there,if one of your chalices is randomly dwindling away and your water parameters are fine check for these little crabs!
Ive had this frag for a while and it was never really looking right. Last week I noticed something sitting on the eye,I thought it was debris. Last night I was taking pictures of the tank and noticed a tiny little crab sitting inside the gastrovascular cavity of the 1 eye on this chalice frag with just his head sticking out of the eye,no wonder it wasnt growing. I assume the crabs sits in the eye/cavity and eats all food that the chalice pulls in with the feeders, in result to that the chalice never gets food and just dies. I had to get some tweezers and pull the little sucker out,he didnt make it:xd:. Sadly I think the chalice might not recover...

Needless to say check to see if your unhappy chalices have crabs!!

Here are some not so good pictures,taken with flash.

Before surgery

After surgery,bye bye crab

What I want to know is, what exactly are these called? and where do they come from? I have never had one before and this little guy decided he wanted to pop up in my chalice, I think not:sure:

 

[Troylee]

Little baby gorrila maybe???? Man that blows most likely there is more if you found one..."hope not" man you could always do a interceptor dose to make sure...;)

 

[KLR]

Maybe so but I dont think so because wouldnt they be in other corals mouths if this one was in this chalice's mouth? But it is possible,I might do an interceptor dose just for safety.

 

[Dave3112]

Interceptor all the way! I do a dose every 2 months for precautionary measures. Even if I haven't seen a red bug! I acquire a lot of corals from many different places (trades,LFS,Online......) and even though I dip everything I still dose the interceptor.

 

[KLR]

Hmm now I need directions on that, Im sure there is a thread somewhere on here,time to search:nerd:

 

[AlvaradoL]

Hmm now I need directions on that, Im sure there is a thread somewhere on here,time to search:nerd:

:] DFW Marine Aquarium Society • View topic - Quintessential RED bugs treatment & Interceptor info thread

 

[KLR]

Thanks!^

 

[AlvaradoL]

No problem.. Im currently in a battle myself with something eating my acans.... >_<

 

[jdreef]

Man that is wild, Wow, I did a intercepter treatment about every six months also just to be safe..I beat that little guy was the happest thing around being hand feed and such.. It would be nice to know what that crab is and its habits and such.. I'm glad you got him out.. I also would recomend interceptor just to be sure.. Your entire tank will be happier and your mind will be at ease!!

 

[Lowsingle]

Wow, I never seen that before, thanks for the heads up KLR......I'll have to check my chalices......

thanks,
Darren

 

[KLR]

Yea good thing it wasnt one of the gems tho! I would have been :horse:

 

[bigronbo]

Is there anything to be cautous about with intercepter? I havent had any problems but if it is something that is like maintenance i'm down with that if it doesn't kill anything i have.

 

[bigronbo]

Ah read the link it says will kill crabs and shrimp. I have a fire shrimp that is very nice and big. I'll wait untill i have an actual problem i guess.