Crab + others identification

[mynameisrodney]

Hey guys,

I'm currently setting up my first reef tank and have been adding live rock in batches over the last few weeks. On e of the batches had about 4 or 5 crabs in it. I've only been able to catch 2 of them so far but i was hoping somebody would be able to identify them.

The first one is a medium brown colour, quite hairy, and about 1 - 1.5cm across.The second is red with white spots and slightly over 2cm.

I also have these things over some of my rock which look like clumps of eggs. One of the clumps disappeared overnight and i was worried if something nasty had hatched from them.


Some other things that i am pretty sure I know what they are but just thought i should check are this weird snail/slug thing which i think is Scutus sp. Also i have what i think is a Zoanthus?


And I've also got this hermit crab which is living inside a small chunk of live rock which is pretty cool.

So it's mainly the first 2 crabs and the egg things that I'm worried about (keep them or chuck them?), but any other advice is also appreciated.

Cheers
Chris

[mynameisrodney]

I'm already over my attachments limit, more pics here

egg things
i119.photobucket.com/albums/o126/mynameisrodney/P6212013.jpg

Zoanthus?
i119.photobucket.com/albums/o126/mynameisrodney/P6212020.jpg

Scutus sp?
i119.photobucket.com/albums/o126/mynameisrodney/P6212042.jpg

Hermit crab
i119.photobucket.com/albums/o126/mynameisrodney/SDC10044.jpg

[mynameisrodney]

Ok i went and bought some more live rock yesterday and have a whole heap more hitchhikers.

I've found at least 3 of these shrimp (and managed to remove 2 of them), are these mantis shrimp? They are only quite small <1cm.
i119.photobucket.com/albums/o126/mynameisrodney/SDC10152.jpg

Also there are 2 of these big weird worm things that look like they have coral sprouting from their heads. They are quite big. probably >10cm. Are they bad?
i119.photobucket.com/albums/o126/mynameisrodney/SDC10155.jpg

On a good note I did get a piece of lr covered in Zoos. Lets hope they all open up.
i119.photobucket.com/albums/o126/mynameisrodney/SDC10117.jpg

[Dragonist]

don't know what these are, when in doubt remove!


cool more zoas

looks like Stomatella Varia

could be a stag horn hermit...if I am correct by the hermit type they will need strong lighting + calcium for thier coral shell.

due to the huge claw on the left looks to be a pistol shrimp

looks like it could be a cucumber


looks like a nice amount of zoas for a hitch hiker great pick up

[mynameisrodney]

Cheers for that Dragonist.

I got rid of as many of the egg looking things as i could, but there were quite a few clumps of them so I'm sure I missed some. We'll see what hatches I guess.

The hermit is still moving around a lot but I haven seen that pistol shrimp in a few days now. I hope he made it.

[mynameisrodney]

Also I have some more hitchhikers

not sure if this is aiptasia
i119.photobucket.com/albums/o126/mynameisrodney/SDC10274.jpg

thinking this may be Caulerpa Racemosa
i119.photobucket.com/albums/o126/mynameisrodney/SDC10271.jpg


and i have this coral which looks pretty cool and is doing ok, any idea what it is (bottom left of photo)
i119.photobucket.com/albums/o126/mynameisrodney/SDC10260.jpg


Cheers
Chris

[Dragonist]

Looks like bubble algae...but I think I am wrong never seen it grow in a vine like formation



Looks like a dead coral skeleton with Gsp(green star polyp growing on it

[mynameisrodney]

Thanks. Having a closer look at some other pics of green star polyps I think you're right.

[Dragonist]

Gratz what are the specs of your tank mynameisrodney. What are the specs of your tank. I would recommend creating your on spec thread mynameisrodney. I think its cool it allows you to document the growth of your reef. Here is mine(sorry have'nt updated in a while)http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f7...ef-132270.html. Also happy reefing and welcome to trt(I know im late for the welcome).

[aquawolf]

The green plant with the bubbles looks like Grape Caulerpa. It is a macro algae that some people like to use in their refugiums. You will want to keep it pruned or it will get out of hand.

As for the crabs, if you look at their pinchers and they are pointy it is best to remove them from the system. Many will tell you there are no safe crabs to have in a reef tank. Some that have flatter pinchers are usually algae eaters, like emerald crabs, but many are still considered opportunistic feeders that will eat anything they can get a hold of.

[Reeftanker3295]

wow you got like a whole colony of zoas! haha nice pickup! i agree on the grape caulerpa on that vine

[gabranth17]

the worm is some kind of nudi, normally not bad, get rid of the crabs if ur gonna have coral, im pretty sure u got Zoanthus nice bonus with the zoos!! and keep the shrimp in some separate place he might be a pistol, if it is hes good. PS: dude what kind of LR is that??, u got so many things

[HL]

Yes I get rid of the crabs as well, because of the claws.