Weird crab question

[alexkharden]

Ok, I know this is a decorator crab. My question concerns what is decorated itself with. When I first got my LR, there was this thing in with it that I didn't know what it was. My thoughts here maybe an anemone, maybe a hammer coral, I didn't know. I acclimated it and put it on the sand, but honestly it didn't look very good so I didn't think it would survive. The two decorator crabs got ahold of it and cut it up and adorned themselves with it. I thought that was very Mad Max/Firefly Reavers of them. My wife thinks it's creepy. Anyway, look at the pics. It actually looks like some of those things are not only alive, but appear to even be open with polyp extension. What, is that even possible!?!?

 

[Robink]

can you get a better pic? Can't tell if its polyps or not.

 

[saltyphish]

Looks like zoas to me but hard to tell 100% sure pics a bit blurry for me.

 

[saltyphish]

if it is zoas which I'm thinking they are then definitely possible. Zoas can take a beating and survive. Well some can others not so much.

 

[fragit]

Looks like zooanthids

 

[Uwharrie]

I see a limpet and possibly Zoas but can't really tell due to picture quality

 

[alexkharden]

I see a limpet and possibly Zoas but can't really tell due to picture quality

Here's some, hopefully, better pictures.

 

[saltyphish]

Zoas 100% sure

 

[alexkharden]

Zoas 100% sure

Like, actual living zoas? Healthy? Lol, that's crazy to me!

 

[saltyphish]

Yes living, most likely stressed from the crabs messing with them.

 

[alexkharden]

Yes living, most likely stressed from the crabs messing with them.

Should I try to extract them from the crabs, or just let nature take it's course?

 

[saltyphish]

I would leave them be. Those crabs so things like that from time to time. Just be glad it was free zoas.

 

[alexkharden]

I would leave them be. Those crabs so things like that from time to time. Just be glad it was free zoas.

Gotcha, thanks! Yes, they were definitely free, thankfully :-)