Crab HitchHiker ID (w/ pics)

NanosAreCool · 03/23/2006, 11:47 PM

I got this little crab on some live rock I got today and luckily he hopped off the rock into the bucket. I was wondering if anyone could ID it and give me some info on it, particularly its agressiveness, reef compatability, and potential to harm small fishes. Below are 2 photos just taken of it inside the bucket. In the second picture the 5 about a millimeter above the surface of the water, particularly the corner above the crab, to give a sense of it's size.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...82DSCF0057.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...82DSCF0057.JPG

Blown 346 · 03/23/2006, 11:50 PM

Linky no workie?

pepe.king.prawn · 03/23/2006, 11:53 PM

I'll post the ID for that $5 bill! haha, just kidding. I'd say that most of such hitchhiking crabs are pretty much a gamble. Crabs are like seagulls, they eat anything that could possibly be food. This might be your picnic for the seagull, or perhaps a prized zoa for the crab. I'd throw it in your sump or something, why not? Just not in the display with your corals

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Blown 346 · 03/24/2006, 12:00 AM

I wouldnt have him in your tank either.

NanosAreCool · 03/24/2006, 12:07 AM

The liverock is from a friend's tank and he said the only type of crab he ever added to his system besides hermits was a PomPom Crab, could it possibly be one of those full grown and without its anemone pompoms?

Paintbug · 03/24/2006, 11:33 AM

that appears to be a Xanthid crab. not considered reef safe. im almost 100% thats not a Pom Pom Crab.

REEFKEEPA · 03/24/2006, 01:47 PM

Crush him to death and then keep an eye out for others.
They hide until night and then stalk your sleeping fish.

li-mike · 03/24/2006, 06:53 PM

The black marking on the claw is a give away it is a ....... Envelope please . A Gorilla Crab or something from the (xanthid species). Remember Pointy claws = Bad Crab.

li-mike · 03/24/2006, 06:55 PM

Here is a pic. One of the worst crabs to have

ufchristyb · 03/24/2006, 07:05 PM

It could also be a stone crab - they are known to have large claws with black tips as well. We had one in our tank for about 6 months (hitchhiked in on FL liverock) he got to be huge and started killing/eating everything in site. Needless to say he was captured and stuck in the freezer.

--Christy

03/23/2006, 11:47 PM	#1
NanosAreCool Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 13	Crab HitchHiker ID (w/ pics) I got this little crab on some live rock I got today and luckily he hopped off the rock into the bucket. I was wondering if anyone could ID it and give me some info on it, particularly its agressiveness, reef compatability, and potential to harm small fishes. Below are 2 photos just taken of it inside the bucket. In the second picture the 5 about a millimeter above the surface of the water, particularly the corner above the crab, to give a sense of it's size. http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...82DSCF0057.JPG http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...82DSCF0057.JPG

03/23/2006, 11:53 PM	#3
pepe.king.prawn Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: east bay CA / UC Davis Posts: 778	I'll post the ID for that $5 bill! haha, just kidding. I'd say that most of such hitchhiking crabs are pretty much a gamble. Crabs are like seagulls, they eat anything that could possibly be food. This might be your picnic for the seagull, or perhaps a prized zoa for the crab. I'd throw it in your sump or something, why not? Just not in the display with your corals . __________________ -Tristan Current Tank Info: 180gal live rock tank (no fish, no corals.. just live rock)

03/24/2006, 11:33 AM	#6
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	that appears to be a Xanthid crab. not considered reef safe. im almost 100% thats not a Pom Pom Crab. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

03/24/2006, 01:47 PM	#7
REEFKEEPA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Orleans Posts: 494	Crush him to death and then keep an eye out for others. They hide until night and then stalk your sleeping fish. __________________ WE ROCK!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 70 Gallon tub drilled, 120Lbs LR, 140Lbs LS, CPR CY194 Sump w/LR trickle, Mag Drive 9.5 return, 2 x Tunze6025 for flow, 2 x Ice Cap 660 running 6 x 95 W lamps

03/24/2006, 07:05 PM	#10
ufchristyb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 269	It could also be a stone crab - they are known to have large claws with black tips as well. We had one in our tank for about 6 months (hitchhiked in on FL liverock) he got to be huge and started killing/eating everything in site. Needless to say he was captured and stuck in the freezer. --Christy __________________ GO GATORS! Current Tank Info: Possible future 55g unreef safe fish tank

03/23/2006, 11:50 PM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Linky no workie?

03/24/2006, 12:00 AM	#4
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	I wouldnt have him in your tank either.

03/24/2006, 12:07 AM	#5
NanosAreCool Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 13	The liverock is from a friend's tank and he said the only type of crab he ever added to his system besides hermits was a PomPom Crab, could it possibly be one of those full grown and without its anemone pompoms?

03/24/2006, 06:53 PM	#8
li-mike Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wading River, NY Posts: 53	The black marking on the claw is a give away it is a ....... Envelope please . A Gorilla Crab or something from the (xanthid species). Remember Pointy claws = Bad Crab.

03/24/2006, 06:55 PM	#9
li-mike Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wading River, NY Posts: 53	Here is a pic. One of the worst crabs to have