Hoping I get get the benefit of others experience with strange critters on coral. The story - a little over a week ago, I picked up what I think was a frag of purple stylophora from Neptune. Did the 15 min dip w/ Revive and introduced to my tank (on the ground, but nothing blocking the light, what I consider med flow). At that point I notice a small bleached patch that I missed when I picked it up, but hoped it wouldn't get any worse. Today I pulled out the almost completely bleached piece, and noticed a thin fissure in the coral, so I broke it open with a screwdriver and found what looks like a very small crab... with an eggcase.
Here's the coral the day I added it. Note white patch bottom, left.
This guy (or gal I suppose...) is pretty small - maybe 1/4" across
From another angle
On a piece of paper towel
So my concern - Does anybody know what this thing is, and more importantly, is it possibly responsible for damaging the coral? It's in a little cup of tank water while I look through reef hitchhiker websites and decide it's fate.
Thanks for looking!
Here's the coral the day I added it. Note white patch bottom, left.
This guy (or gal I suppose...) is pretty small - maybe 1/4" across
From another angle
On a piece of paper towel
So my concern - Does anybody know what this thing is, and more importantly, is it possibly responsible for damaging the coral? It's in a little cup of tank water while I look through reef hitchhiker websites and decide it's fate.
Thanks for looking!
I'll be at the frag swap on saturday.
