Crab identification - coral eater?

[Stu]

I've just added a replacement toadstool coral to my tank after the
first one died a smelly death. Something was eating it and I thought
it might have been a nudibranch (which I've removed). However two days
after putting in the new one I noticed a big chunk missing from it. My
wife suggested maybe it was a crab, so I'm now in the process of
trying to catch some of them out (there's heaps in there).

Here's the first one... am trying to catch the big black one next.

http://sswain.tripod.com/tank/crab1.jpg
http://sswain.tripod.com/tank/crab1b.jpg
http://sswain.tripod.com/tank/crab1c.jpg

Can anyone ID this and tell me if it might be the culprit?

Many thanks,
Stu

[Boomer]

It is a Neoliomera insularis, Red Xanthid Crab or Red Round Crab.You are not going to find
any info on it. They live in rubble up to 10 m, are sometimes associated or live near
corals and in Mangrove areas. They are common to Australia, New Caledonia, New Guinea,
Philippines and Japan.

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"Stu" > wrote in message
om...
: I've just added a replacement toadstool coral to my tank after the
: first one died a smelly death. Something was eating it and I thought
: it might have been a nudibranch (which I've removed). However two days
: after putting in the new one I noticed a big chunk missing from it. My
: wife suggested maybe it was a crab, so I'm now in the process of
: trying to catch some of them out (there's heaps in there).
:
: Here's the first one... am trying to catch the big black one next.
:
: http://sswain.tripod.com/tank/crab1.jpg
: http://sswain.tripod.com/tank/crab1b.jpg
: http://sswain.tripod.com/tank/crab1c.jpg
:
: Can anyone ID this and tell me if it might be the culprit?
:
: Many thanks,
: Stu

[Marc Levenson]

It is absolutely beautiful, and I'd put it in a refugium at least, so you can
enjoy it. Refugiums are typically just sand, tiny crustaceans and macro algae,
so it won't cause any real trouble there. The color is fantastic!

Marc


Stu wrote:

> I've just added a replacement toadstool coral to my tank after the
> first one died a smelly death. Something was eating it and I thought
> it might have been a nudibranch (which I've removed). However two days
> after putting in the new one I noticed a big chunk missing from it. My
> wife suggested maybe it was a crab, so I'm now in the process of
> trying to catch some of them out (there's heaps in there).
>
> Here's the first one... am trying to catch the big black one next.
>
> http://sswain.tripod.com/tank/crab1.jpg
> http://sswain.tripod.com/tank/crab1b.jpg
> http://sswain.tripod.com/tank/crab1c.jpg
>
> Can anyone ID this and tell me if it might be the culprit?
>
> Many thanks,
> Stu

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