Hitchhiker Crabs & Pistol Shrimp

[Rtaylor]

Hello, I received a small birdsnest colony today and found 4 hitchhikers. 2 crabs (Trapezia septata - I think) and 2 pistol shrimp (Alpheus lottini -I think). I have no worries on the crabs, not as confident on the shrimp. There isn’t much info available I can find on them. I gather they reside in the coral and are not the sand burrowing type of pistol shrimp? Anyone able to confirm identification and/or have experience with the shrimp?
Thanks!

 

[Rtaylor]

Anyone? I think I’m just going to add them back to the coral.

 

[shakacuz]

i found a few threads on here about the crab ID you gave. pictures do match yours. they seem to be an acro dwelling species that feeds off the mucus acros have..apparently they tend to go for the healthier colonies, but do occasionally go for the weaker kind.

edit: found nothing on the shrimp. sorry.

 

[Rtaylor]

i found a few threads on here about the crab ID you gave. pictures do match yours. they seem to be an acro dwelling species that feeds off the mucus acros have..apparently they tend to go for the healthier colonies, but do occasionally go for the weaker kind.

edit: found nothing on the shrimp. sorry.

Yeah, I couldn’t find much either. Thanks!

 

[Chrisv.]

This is a nice article about coral crabs: https://reefbuilders.com/2015/09/25/an-introduction-to-coral-crabs-good-and-bad/

 

[Sean_B]

Alpheus lottini​

from S. Pacific and images seem to reflect the spotted claws?

 

[shakacuz]

This is a nice article about coral crabs: https://reefbuilders.com/2015/09/25/an-introduction-to-coral-crabs-good-and-bad/

Alpheus lottini​

from S. Pacific and images seem to reflect the spotted claws?

seems like you have yourself some very nice hitchhikers, @Rtaylor

 

[Rtaylor]

seems like you have yourself some very nice hitchhikers, @Rtaylor

Yeah, I love hitchhikers, it’s so much fun trying to figure out an ID and free livestock is always nice.
People who throw out everything “to be safe” don’t know what they’re missing.