Good Acro Crab or Bad?

[filbie70]

This guy has stripped the side of one of my Acros. He was in another one that did need help recovering and now it is. But, he moved over to this one that I thought was doing well. It is a fuzzy relish brown color with blue eyes. Thoughts?

 

[filbie70]

A couple of additional pics

View attachment 20161211_212914.jpg

 

[Salty1962]

It appears to be a Gorilla crab, I would pull and put it in your sump.

 

[Roboson]

I can't tell from the photos. If you can get him out, post some photos and I'll give you an ID.

 

[filbie70]

I'll try to get better pics. But, based on the other coral that he ate part of and it is now recovering. I'm thinking it may be Cymo Melanodactylus, or The Furry Coral Crab. If so, he maybe destroying my Acro.

Named for the setae covered, ‘furry’ appearance of its carapace, this crab actually feeds on mucus secreted by the coral, dead coral tissue, and floating zooplankton/detritus. At first thought to be an infesting pest species, later studies have concluded that C. melanodactylus crabs actually slow/reverse progression of tissue loss caused by White Syndrome (WS) in acroporid corals, rather than acting as a potential vector.

White band disease is a coral disease that affects acroporid corals and is distinguishable by the white band of dead coral tissue that it forms. The disease completely destroys the coral tissue of Caribbean acroporid corals, specifically elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) and staghorn coral. (A. cervicornis).

It is fascinating to learn that on the micro scale the predatory behavior of coral crabs like Cymo melanodactylus are harmful but at the large ecosystem scale their efforts amount to surgical grazing, removing disease flesh to make an overall healthier colony.

 

[filbie70]

Better pics @Roboson, @Salty1962

 

[filbie70]

 

[filbie70]

Another thought is Blue Eyed Crab, considered an SPS parasite. Any help is appreciated

 

[filbie70]

I'm getting the awwhhh he's cute from my wife as he is rolling around on his back.

 

[Salty1962]

He's awe cute until he wipes out your colonies

 

[ChiCity]

It's a teddy bear crab

They're no good in a reef

 

[filbie70]

I am floating him tonight. All research on the web says Blue Eyed Hairy Acro Crab ie SPS parasite. From what I am reading they only eat SPS so the fuge would be a slow death. Again thanks for any comments before he receives his final sentence tomorrow.

 

[Roboson]

Blue eyed crabs will eat frozen and meaty foods in the absence of their main food source. Tossing him in the sump would be better than outright flushing it.

 

[eleet]

Eeeep he's super adorable!!! Toss him in the sump. Try meaty foods. Maybe toss him. Pies of green slimmer every now and then if he needs it.

 

[luke33]

I always put those guys in the sump. They are common on mariculture and eat the sps polyps, so not reef safe.

 

[filbie70]

The pardon didn't come through...into the sump this morning

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The pardon didn't come through...into the sump this morning

All hail the new Sump Lord!
Id love to have one for my sump.

 

[KJ]

Better pics @Roboson, @Salty1962

Cymo Andreossyi.

 

[eleet]

All hail the new Sump Lord!
Id love to have one for my sump.

I need a sump lord. My last one got sacrificed to appease the reefing gods.

 

[ahiggins]

I'm getting the awwhhh he's cute from my wife as he is rolling around on his back.

hes so adorable!!!