Pocillopora Crab?

Hello everyone on 3reef,

I would just like to learn more about the Pocillopora Crab, so if you have any in your system or have any knowledge of them help me out.

First and foremost, are they reefsafe?
Are there any fish/inverts that will eat these guys?
What are their adult size?
Are they hardy?
Do they only reside in pocillopora or will they host in other stony corals?
Do you have to have colonies for this crab or will medium sized frags (3-6 inches) be okay?

Thank you to everyone in advance and I hope to learn some stuff about these guys.

 

Totally reef safe they have a symbiont type relationship with the coral similar to the little porcelain crabs that live in the branches of that coral they help to keep the corals clean healthy and safe from predation by fish . I have seen them get to about the size of a nickle and smaller then a quarter . They will often times come in on a adult colony of coral thats how all mine ever came into the systems.

 

I do know that they need a coral to host in, otherwise they will die... not sure why that is, though.

 

I have one of these guys he came in on a pocilliopora frag and was clutched to it for dear life haha. I drip acclimated for about 45 min and dropped him in. I was worried about my hawkfish but so far so good. He rarely stays in the coral anymore but instead likes to perch between the rocks above it. So I am not sure if he needs the coral or not

 

I have 3 different species. Some prefer one type of coral IE poci, acro, but will switch if they find a better home nearby. I had one take a 4 foot migration to another acro colony.

A single one can live comfortably in a 3" frag as long as there are branches to hide in. Multiples in 4" and above. The most I have seen in one of my corals is 2. It is a 7" acro colony.