----- crab

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3073183
Ok inquiring minds I have the red decorator crab Dmecia acanthophora
Thank you...I was thinking of ordering one and did not know there were 2 types..lol...Did you know that one says NO to reef safe???
Do you think it is because it uses the stuff as decorations???

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3073190
Thank you...I was thinking of ordering one and did not know there were 2 types..lol...Did you know that one says NO to reef safe???
Do you think it is because it uses the stuff as decorations???
Ummm either I was lucky or I researched before I purchased

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by saltwatercowby
http:///forum/post/3073029
that is the coolest thing i have seen....So do the polyps just keep on groing on them or what happens when the coral gets to big?
Polyps keep on growing. Their claws are not long enough to remove so I assume they can rub them off on rock. Interesting thought this is part of my Ricordea that was on the crab and now deposited on my Zoo

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3073233
Ummm either I was lucky or I researched before I purchased

Hmmmm...I don't get the response...I also have done some research...which is why I asked you...since you have one...about the reef safe issue...nevermind though....

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3073239

Hmmmm...I don't get the response...I also have done some research...which is why I asked you...since you have one...about the reef safe issue...nevermind though....
Ok slowly now. Yes I am aware there is a reef safe and non reef safe species hence I purchased the reef safe

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3073247
Ok slowly now. Yes I am aware there is a reef safe and non reef safe species hence I purchased the reef safe

FROM SWF.COM
Domecia acanthophora/Decorator Crab
Size: 1 inch
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Safe: No
Diet: Flake, Pellet, Meaty
Origin: Caribbean
Acclimation Time: 1+ Hours
Coral Safe: No
This is why I asked the question I asked....

 

[florida joe]

I can not speak for swf e-mail me

 

[florida joe]

I think it comes down to covering ones A— if I had a nano tank and one Ricordea I would not like a crab taking a good part of it for its own decoration. So the suppliers I believe could not give a blanket statement that it was reef safe. I on the other hand have a 110g tank with multiple corals and do not mind the taking of polyps to decorate, as long as it is not detrimental to the coral which it seems not to be

 

[meowzer]

OK...so In your opinion....even if you have a large tank...but limited corals...wait on the deco crab???

 

[fishstick4sale]

lol that is sooo awesome, well for the reef safe thing depends on how u see it, yes they do clip away at coral and put them on there backs. but they dont clip to eat them like alot of none reef safe species. these r unique in there own way they only clip to use as camouflage. so yea they are not reef safe if you mind them clippin away at your coral when they molt. for others they are reef safe if u can afford for your coral to get clipped every so often but its not always.
so in the end yea not reef safe they clip your coral, but they dont kill your coral. so eh reefsafe/notreefsafe species.
*sounds like im arguing with myself*

 

[woody189]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3073017
Woody I believe they do this as camouflage. He or she has taken polyps from the coral it was placed near so I believe you can engineer any decorations you like. I was thinking of taking the crab out and scraping off the polyps and placing the crab near some blue zoos but I am going to get two more and see if I can come up with some interesting color on them.
The coral you asked about is a Ricordea
THanks for the info. I thought it was ricordea, but I've never really seen it grow like that. It's usually in a circle, but I guess it's like that because it was clipped.

 

[florida joe]

http://www-eve.ucdavis.edu/stachowicz/decorator.shtml
On the subject of reef safe. I submit this similarity. An apple falls from a tree, it is red and the color attracts an animal. Its flesh is tasty so the animal takes the apple somewhere and eats it. The seeds from that apple are in one way or another deposited on the ground and may in fact grow another tree. Propagation of the species. Perhaps our designer crabs are doing the same thing on our reefs with corals and algae in their own way.
BTW I wonder if corals could talk they would consider humans as Reef Safe ?

 

[fishkid13]

I guess it depend on what coral it is clipping at right? I mean, if it is just a polpy it won't do to much damage and polpys are pretty hardy. But if it starts clipping at a really nice coral that is not so hardy I could see it being a hazard there.

 

[florida joe]

it starts clipping at a really nice coral that is not so hardy I could see it being a hazard there.
Which can open up a whole new thread on what corals should be taken from the worlds reefs just for our own amusement

 

[fishkid13]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3073595
Which can open up a whole new thread on what corals should be taken from the worlds reefs just for our own amusement
See that is your job and meowzers (were is she) is suppose to cristise you on making another thread that it is hard to get a clear solid answer. ha ha jk. And this is where fragging comes in.

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by fishkid13
http:///forum/post/3073598
See that is your job and meowzers (were is she) is suppose to cristise you on making another thread that it is hard to get a clear solid answer. ha ha jk. And this is where fragging comes in.
The amount of corals we buy that are aqua cultured is so ridiculously small at this point it is a shame. But I am highjacking my own thread

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by fishkid13
http:///forum/post/3073598
See that is your job and meowzers (were is she) is suppose to cristise you on making another thread that it is hard to get a clear solid answer. ha ha jk. And this is where fragging comes in.
Working...LOL

 

[fishkid13]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3073605
The amount of corals we buy that are aqua cultured is so ridiculously small at this point it is a shame. But I am highjacking my own thread
You are right. What the problem it still is 'your' thread.

 

[florida joe]

Now back to my moving frag. This is our decorator hanging under a ledge

 

[florida joe]

Note the pic above shows no signs of distress on the polyps attached