what the hell is this?

This little critter was burrowed into the side of our elegance coral. we saw some pincers poking up around the flat head and assumed it was a crab and wanted to get it the heck away from our coral. Upon extraction it does not look like a crab but more like a underwater tick. Its body is so fat it can not move. it trys to but no it just wiggles a little. any ideas? here is another pic i just added. the circle next to "it" is a thumb tac.

 

Man, hard to tell. Either a chiton, isopod or some type of sea spider.
Xtalreef

 

What is that?!?!?!

 

its head is flat and at a slant if that helps any.

 

Looks like a parasitic isopod to me I would remove it and keep my eye out for anymore of them.

 

Isopod

 

isopods have black eyes this has none that i can see. also notice in the picture this critter has 8 legs and a set of small pincers like a crab.

 

Looks like an isopod

 

It might be a gall crab, hard to say without much closer, detailed photos.

Chuck

 

well chuck i think you hit the nail on the head. I looked up gall crab and yes the description is right on the money. not sure if its good or bad but its out now so thanks a bunch k+