Pyram CRABS?

[scytale]

Ok, this is weird...

I was worried that I had a massive pyramid snail infestation in my tank
(http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45474 )

So I pulled 4 of the "snails" out of my tank and put them under a microscope-- trying to ID pyram vs. rissoid--but guess what i found...

...Tiny legs, pincers, and antenna!
They weren't snails at all--they're tiny hermit crabs!



:idea: Anyone have a few pyram snails they'd want to try a Thunderdome* with my "pico crabs"?
(*2 may enter, but only 1 leaves...)

Travis.

 

[mercedes]

that's awesome!

 

[jacobnano]

That is sweet. Have they been reproducing in your tank?

 

[scytale]

That is sweet. Have they been reproducing in your tank?

Hard to say...
I certainly have hundreds of mobile snail-shells in my tank-- but am not ready to say that they're ALL tiny-crabs just yet. (I'm 4-for-4 so far--but want to do a lot more random samples before I'm sure.)

My hope is that they're all crabs, and must have wiped out a whole pyram or rissoid population long long long ago...
(the whole reef is several years old--I've had it for 3 years, but it was several years old before that.)

If anyone wants a few "pico-crabs" to try in their tank, I have many to spare!

 

[jacobnano]

I would love a few. I do live in Yakima, but if you are ever going to the east side send me a PM.