Filter feeding crab

Malolo · 03/14/2006, 10:27 PM

This guy is the coolest hitchhiker I've ever picked-up. So far, he has been completely well-mannered, but his large claws give me pause. I think he could do some serious damage if he was of a mind to do so.

Anyone familiar with this guy? His carapace is about 2.5" wide and growing. I could catch and pull him if I had to, but I would really like to keep him. He's in a large mixed corals system with tons of LR and quite a few fish. He has about doubled in size in the 3 monthes or so I've been tracking him.[

TippyToeX · 03/14/2006, 10:32 PM

Did you get FL live rock? They are Petrolisthes galathinus, aka Porcelain crabs. I love them!

I had an anemone crab (they filter feed too). Here is a pic of him

xcreonx · 03/14/2006, 10:33 PM

Nice crab! Keep him! He shouldn't bother anything.

jwedehase · 03/14/2006, 10:57 PM

Yep, lots of people pay good money for those guys! Keep him.

Malolo · 03/14/2006, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Did you get FL live rock?

Actually, I'm pretty sure he came in on Fiji LR. There is no Florida LR in the system.

Malolo · 03/15/2006, 07:03 AM

I'm pretty sure this is not an Atlantic critter. Can anyone else confirm his ID?

LobsterOfJustice · 03/15/2006, 07:08 AM

Looks exactly like a Porcelain crab to me.

03/14/2006, 10:27 PM	#1
Malolo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: wilmington nc Posts: 209	Filter feeding crab This guy is the coolest hitchhiker I've ever picked-up. So far, he has been completely well-mannered, but his large claws give me pause. I think he could do some serious damage if he was of a mind to do so. Anyone familiar with this guy? His carapace is about 2.5" wide and growing. I could catch and pull him if I had to, but I would really like to keep him. He's in a large mixed corals system with tons of LR and quite a few fish. He has about doubled in size in the 3 monthes or so I've been tracking him.[ __________________ Will trade bushes for trees -mike- Current Tank Info: 58gal mostly sps all T5 lighting SSB ER skimmer

03/14/2006, 10:32 PM	#2
TippyToeX Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 10,711	Did you get FL live rock? They are Petrolisthes galathinus, aka Porcelain crabs. I love them! I had an anemone crab (they filter feed too). Here is a pic of him __________________ -Amy-

03/14/2006, 10:33 PM	#3
xcreonx Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,362	Nice crab! Keep him! He shouldn't bother anything. __________________ Nature knows no indecencies; man invents them. -Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 90g shallow with H. Barbouri Seahorses

03/14/2006, 10:57 PM	#4
jwedehase Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Central CA, USA Posts: 908	Yep, lots of people pay good money for those guys! Keep him. __________________ This space for rent. Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef. 2x250w HQI 14K, 4x39w T5HO. AquaEuro 400

03/15/2006, 07:03 AM	#6
Malolo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: wilmington nc Posts: 209	I'm pretty sure this is not an Atlantic critter. Can anyone else confirm his ID? __________________ Will trade bushes for trees -mike- Current Tank Info: 58gal mostly sps all T5 lighting SSB ER skimmer

03/15/2006, 07:08 AM	#7
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Looks exactly like a Porcelain crab to me. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles