crabby hitchhiker

3djedi · 02/19/2010, 02:32 PM

Hey, I bought a ball of chaeto from my LFS and when I got home to put it in I found a red crab in the mix. Looks kind of like a mithrax but I'm not sure. The legs turn kinda bluish purplish towards the tips. (I could be wrong about color as the lights are off and hard to tell) You think it's safe to put in my reef or should I throw it in the fuge?

d3rryc · 02/19/2010, 02:48 PM

If you're not sure EXACTLY what kind of crab it is, sump him. I lost three fish and a fire shrimp to a hitchhiker crab with a carapace the size of a quarter.

3djedi · 02/19/2010, 02:50 PM

I'll try and get a pic of the lil guy

Zebodog · 02/19/2010, 02:53 PM

Appoint him as Guardian of the Sump.

Look at the claws? Do they look like they're designed for scraping algae or tearing flesh?

d3rryc · 02/19/2010, 03:06 PM

Look here for a possible id.

3djedi · 02/19/2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d3rryc

Look here for a possible id.

thanks for the link. I don't think he looks like any of those........pics coming

3djedi · 02/19/2010, 03:33 PM

pics.....The tips of his legs are blueish and so is the underbelly.....

d3rryc · 02/19/2010, 03:37 PM

Can you get a pic of the claws?

3djedi · 02/19/2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d3rryc

Can you get a pic of the claws?

I went ahead and put him in the fuge. Hard to get a good pic now...he's behind a ball of chaeto. I think he's claws look just like those of an emerald crab. I see him in there picking up sand and combing through it in his mouth... he's really going to town on the stuff!

d3rryc · 02/19/2010, 03:44 PM

Cool freebie, either way. ; )

3djedi · 02/19/2010, 04:34 PM

I now, right? When I saw that guy in the chaeto I was pretty stoked! I'm sure my wife thinks I'm crazy............

Chiefsurfer · 02/19/2010, 04:44 PM

looks like a mithrax type crab. I have heard the green are nicer than the red, but either way a little risky. I'd leave him in the sump.

LeslieH · 02/20/2010, 09:30 AM

It's a sand crab in the family Ocypodidae. Fiddlers crabs are relatives. They eat detritus, micro-algae, & other organics bits off sand. Normal habitat is intertidal - they spend at least half of their lives out of water. If you want to keep it happy put a stick or rock that sticks out of the water for it to climb.

02/19/2010, 02:32 PM	#1
3djedi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 360	crabby hitchhiker Hey, I bought a ball of chaeto from my LFS and when I got home to put it in I found a red crab in the mix. Looks kind of like a mithrax but I'm not sure. The legs turn kinda bluish purplish towards the tips. (I could be wrong about color as the lights are off and hard to tell) You think it's safe to put in my reef or should I throw it in the fuge?

02/19/2010, 04:44 PM	#12
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	looks like a mithrax type crab. I have heard the green are nicer than the red, but either way a little risky. I'd leave him in the sump. __________________ Chief Current Tank: 20 Gallon tall, 4-bulb t5 HO, Eshopps psk75H, ac-70 fuge. So far, green clown goby, striped goby, more gorillas than I wish I had, 5 SPS frags, 3 LPS Frags, 1 Softee, Turkey Wing Clam. Plan for the future: 120 gallon 4ft glass tank. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tall Reef Tank

02/20/2010, 09:30 AM	#13
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	It's a sand crab in the family Ocypodidae. Fiddlers crabs are relatives. They eat detritus, micro-algae, & other organics bits off sand. Normal habitat is intertidal - they spend at least half of their lives out of water. If you want to keep it happy put a stick or rock that sticks out of the water for it to climb. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

02/19/2010, 02:48 PM	#2
d3rryc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cedar Park, TX Posts: 213	If you're not sure EXACTLY what kind of crab it is, sump him. I lost three fish and a fire shrimp to a hitchhiker crab with a carapace the size of a quarter.

02/19/2010, 02:50 PM	#3
3djedi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 360	I'll try and get a pic of the lil guy

02/19/2010, 02:53 PM	#4
Zebodog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mississauga, ON Posts: 692	Appoint him as Guardian of the Sump. Look at the claws? Do they look like they're designed for scraping algae or tearing flesh?

02/19/2010, 03:06 PM	#5
d3rryc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cedar Park, TX Posts: 213	Look here for a possible id.

02/19/2010, 03:37 PM	#8
d3rryc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cedar Park, TX Posts: 213	Can you get a pic of the claws?

02/19/2010, 03:44 PM	#10
d3rryc Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cedar Park, TX Posts: 213	Cool freebie, either way. ; )

02/19/2010, 04:34 PM	#11
3djedi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 360	I now, right? When I saw that guy in the chaeto I was pretty stoked! I'm sure my wife thinks I'm crazy............