ID crab please!

TravelinGal · 04/23/2014, 07:39 PM

Hi! I'm new to saltwater and I found a little hitchhiker today. He is pale, just slightly darker than the sand and he has tiny redish brown dots on his body. He holds his pinchers very close to his body. He does not appear to be hairy.

Hopefully this picture will help. He's in a 3 oz Dixie type cup if that helps with sizing.

Thanks!
Robin

scott3569 · 04/23/2014, 07:43 PM

well I am a newbie to, but to me it almost looks like an emerald crab..I would wait for someone more knowledgeable though

Crooked Reef · 04/23/2014, 08:58 PM

Not a mithrax (emerald). Not sure. Are the claws pointed? Black tipped?

SwampyBill · 04/23/2014, 09:41 PM

Looks like a porcelain crab. They come in a bunch of different colors. I had one that was brown with purplish spots.

Crooked Reef · 04/23/2014, 10:13 PM

Possibly. Does it have fans at the front of its mouth? Porcelain crabs are primarily filter feeders and considered reef safe. Google them and look at their fans they filter feed with and compare.

TravelinGal · 04/23/2014, 11:49 PM

Thanks - I'll try to see him better in the morning and I'll look into porcelain crabs. :-)

ahmed_iAM · 04/23/2014, 11:53 PM

If its a porcelain crab he'll be eat out of the water column my trying to catch phytoplankton with a feather duster like appendage that come out its mouth. Sorry I Dont exactly know what the appendage is called. You'll know it if you see it.

TravelinGal · 04/24/2014, 10:25 AM

I am concerned if he is reef safe or not. I currently only have 2 feather dusters, mushrooms and button polyps (all fortunate hitchhikers on live rock) but I would like to get corals as my tank matures.

I took him out of his little home and put him on white paper this morning. Here are some more photos.

He is about 1/2" long.

He is upside down in this photo (obviously, this is his face) - does not look like he has the feathery feeder things, so not a porcelain crab??

This photo is the best representation of his true color - also upside down in this photo. (No green - so not an emerald crab)

Spork3245 · 04/24/2014, 10:28 AM

Def looks like a smooth porcelain crab:

http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/...cinctipes.html

Sugar Magnolia · 04/24/2014, 10:32 AM

That's definitely not a porcelain crab. Your crab has sharp points on the end of it's claws indicating that is not reef safe. It will likely eat your clean up crew.

TravelinGal · 04/24/2014, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

That's definitely not a porcelain crab. Your crab has sharp points on the end of it's claws indicating that is not reef safe. It will likely eat your clean up crew.

Good to know. I almost put him back in, but I won't. I felt bad leaving him out "in the cold" all night but it was the right choice.

What is the best way to dispose of him? (I have to admit I'm even squeamish about cutting mushrooms in half to propagate even though I know they don't have a nerve system like us! LOL)

saltyair · 04/24/2014, 10:49 AM

put him in your sump or refug

TravelinGal · 04/24/2014, 11:03 AM

I'm starting simple. No sump or refuge yet. I have a Fluval filter that I am running for now.

Sugar Magnolia · 04/24/2014, 11:10 AM

Just toss it in the freezer. Once it's frozen you can dispose of it.

Reefer54 · 04/24/2014, 11:16 AM

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchcrabs.html

Cymonous · 04/24/2014, 11:17 AM

Or just take him back to the LFS. Maybe you will get some store credit.

04/23/2014, 07:39 PM	#1
TravelinGal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 5	ID crab please! Hi! I'm new to saltwater and I found a little hitchhiker today. He is pale, just slightly darker than the sand and he has tiny redish brown dots on his body. He holds his pinchers very close to his body. He does not appear to be hairy. Hopefully this picture will help. He's in a 3 oz Dixie type cup if that helps with sizing. Thanks! Robin

04/23/2014, 07:43 PM	#2
scott3569 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Middletown,VA Posts: 929	well I am a newbie to, but to me it almost looks like an emerald crab..I would wait for someone more knowledgeable though __________________ I'm in a fishy situation!!! Current Tank Info: 56 gallon 30 x 18 x 22 with a 40gal sump, SCA 302 skimmer, 10 gal QT tank, a hydror 600 power head, 2 enhiem 150 heaters, 49#'s of dry rock, 12#'s of life rock, 40#'s of sand

04/23/2014, 09:41 PM	#4
SwampyBill Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St. Pete, FL. Posts: 2,369	Looks like a porcelain crab. They come in a bunch of different colors. I had one that was brown with purplish spots. __________________ I love me some wrasse... & laissez les bon temps rouler! Current Tank Info: 120 gal Vizio

04/23/2014, 10:13 PM	#5
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	Possibly. Does it have fans at the front of its mouth? Porcelain crabs are primarily filter feeders and considered reef safe. Google them and look at their fans they filter feed with and compare. __________________ “In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank.

04/24/2014, 10:32 AM	#10
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	That's definitely not a porcelain crab. Your crab has sharp points on the end of it's claws indicating that is not reef safe. It will likely eat your clean up crew. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

04/23/2014, 08:58 PM	#3
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	Not a mithrax (emerald). Not sure. Are the claws pointed? Black tipped?

04/23/2014, 11:49 PM	#6
TravelinGal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 5	Thanks - I'll try to see him better in the morning and I'll look into porcelain crabs. :-)

04/23/2014, 11:53 PM	#7
ahmed_iAM Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 419	If its a porcelain crab he'll be eat out of the water column my trying to catch phytoplankton with a feather duster like appendage that come out its mouth. Sorry I Dont exactly know what the appendage is called. You'll know it if you see it.

04/24/2014, 10:25 AM	#8
TravelinGal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 5	I am concerned if he is reef safe or not. I currently only have 2 feather dusters, mushrooms and button polyps (all fortunate hitchhikers on live rock) but I would like to get corals as my tank matures. I took him out of his little home and put him on white paper this morning. Here are some more photos. He is about 1/2" long. He is upside down in this photo (obviously, this is his face) - does not look like he has the feathery feeder things, so not a porcelain crab?? This photo is the best representation of his true color - also upside down in this photo. (No green - so not an emerald crab)

04/24/2014, 10:28 AM	#9
Spork3245 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Central New Jersey Posts: 1,088	Def looks like a smooth porcelain crab: http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/...cinctipes.html

04/24/2014, 10:49 AM	#12
saltyair Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ontario canada Posts: 871	put him in your sump or refug

04/24/2014, 11:03 AM	#13
TravelinGal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 5	I'm starting simple. No sump or refuge yet. I have a Fluval filter that I am running for now.

04/24/2014, 11:10 AM	#14
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Just toss it in the freezer. Once it's frozen you can dispose of it. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

04/24/2014, 11:16 AM	#15
Reefer54 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Avon Posts: 1,087	http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchcrabs.html __________________ R54 Current Tank Info: 36 x 36 x 25 Cube, mixed reef, A360WE x 3, A350N x 1, 40GB sump, RDSB, Remote LR Cryptic, 2 WP-40's, ummm....

04/24/2014, 11:17 AM	#16
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	Or just take him back to the LFS. Maybe you will get some store credit. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby