Lobo hosting a... Crab?!

[NielsC]

Hello everyone

A few days ago I spend a little too much on a Lobo I couldn't stop looking at at the LFS.

Dipped the coral before introducing it to the tank, then fed it some FM LPS pellets. The coral seemed to react quite nicely to the food, however, I noticed something was stealing it from "within".

A small crab seems to be hiding away inside the coral. I've never read about this, so I figure it's a pest more than a symbiotic relationship... The coral (for now) doesn't seem to be bothered by it.

What would you do? Contact the LFS? Monitor how the situation develops?

Note that this picture was taken a mere two hours after introduction. The coral now looks all happy and puffed up.

 

[DSC reef]

I'd say a gall crab too.

 

[Katrina71]

My trachy hosts a Pederson shrimp. Your little crab is probably cute!

 

[NielsC]

Thanks guys! So it shouldn't be damaging to the coral than?

 

[DSC reef]

Thanks guys! So it shouldn't be damaging to the coral than?

Keep any eye on it. The lobo looks healthy and not bothered by the crab. Most of the time they won't do harm as they are pretty cryptic but if you notice the coral dying in that area then you may have to remove the crab.