green hairy crab

meisel1 · 10/30/2008, 06:53 AM

On a recently purchased purple tip acropora I have a fairly large [dime sized] green hairy crab. Most of my other acros have small white crabs and I'm wondering if this type of crab could harm my acros as it has moved from coral to coral.sorry but no photo.

crvz · 10/30/2008, 07:11 AM

most of the time acro crabs present little risk to the colony, though there may be some damage in the immediate area he calls home. In general, I wouldnt worry, but without a picture it's hard to say.

shuguley · 10/30/2008, 07:13 AM

Could be an Emerald Mithrax crab, if so, they are generally reef safe.

_E_ · 10/30/2008, 09:13 AM

Is this your guy (green, hairy legs, body about the size of a dime):

[IMG]

[/IMG]
Emerald Mithrax crab

returnofsid · 10/30/2008, 10:52 AM

Description does sound like an Emerald Crab. If so, great hitchhiker. Some people don't like them, but I love em in my tanks.

Look closely at the claws...are they pointed and sharp or are the ends flat? Emerald Crabs have pretty flat ends to their claws, great for pulling and eating algae.

meisel1 · 10/30/2008, 01:01 PM

that looks like him, but mine is furry on the body as well. I will try to get a pic and post it this evening

10/30/2008, 06:53 AM	#1
meisel1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: aurora ontario Posts: 529	green hairy crab On a recently purchased purple tip acropora I have a fairly large [dime sized] green hairy crab. Most of my other acros have small white crabs and I'm wondering if this type of crab could harm my acros as it has moved from coral to coral.sorry but no photo.

10/30/2008, 07:11 AM	#2
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	most of the time acro crabs present little risk to the colony, though there may be some damage in the immediate area he calls home. In general, I wouldnt worry, but without a picture it's hard to say. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

10/30/2008, 07:13 AM	#3
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	Could be an Emerald Mithrax crab, if so, they are generally reef safe. __________________ 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Midas Blenny, Spotted Mandarin, Pistol Shrimp, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, Large CUC Corals: Xenia, Candy Cane, Zoas, Frogspawn, Brain, Bubble, Shrooms, Sun Current Tank Info: 55G Reef w/ 15G sump/fuge w/chaeto, Phosban Reactor w/GFO, AquaC Remora Protein Skimmer, 2 Koralia 3s, Nova Extreme T5HO 216W, 85lbs LR, 60lbs LS

10/30/2008, 09:13 AM	#4
_E_ Professional Lurker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Du Quoin, Illinois Posts: 1,169	Is this your guy (green, hairy legs, body about the size of a dime): [IMG][/IMG] Emerald Mithrax crab __________________ Eric "If you think things can't get worse it's probably only because you lack sufficient imagination." Current Tank Info: 140 DSA with basement sump room

10/30/2008, 01:01 PM	#6
meisel1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: aurora ontario Posts: 529	that looks like him, but mine is furry on the body as well. I will try to get a pic and post it this evening __________________ current tanks..150 gal diy dt. 60 gal sump, 37 gal macro tank...2x maxspect razor 160, maxspect gyre. 2x mp 10. JNS co2 skimmer. Kamoer triple doser.

10/30/2008, 10:52 AM	#5
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	Description does sound like an Emerald Crab. If so, great hitchhiker. Some people don't like them, but I love em in my tanks. Look closely at the claws...are they pointed and sharp or are the ends flat? Emerald Crabs have pretty flat ends to their claws, great for pulling and eating algae.