I.D. this crab

romsoccer12 · 05/14/2009, 07:25 PM

i have a LR with a bunch of small holes. In some of the holes i see these little white crabs look like emerald crabs but are really small and white. They hang out on the edge of the whole. I think there are 2 or 3 of them. I cant tell if theyre nocturnal or not because i see them out at day and night. I cant get a picture because there too small. Any ideas? Are these good/bad?

abulgin · 05/14/2009, 09:11 PM

Gorilla crab. Google the term and look at the pics that come up.

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/413/1vq5.jpg

Whys · 05/14/2009, 10:14 PM

Could be porcelain crabs. Those aren't harmful. But just about every other kind of crab can be.

Tylt33 · 05/14/2009, 10:29 PM

When in doubt, get them out.

romsoccer12 · 05/15/2009, 04:17 PM

it definitely looks like a gorilla crab just not as hairy. Is that crab reef safe?

Whys · 05/15/2009, 04:37 PM

Nope. Not even close. Think gorilla warfare.

You can try traps. You can try a hyposaline dip if you know what rock they're hiding in.

romsoccer12 · 05/16/2009, 06:18 AM

There are 2 in the same crevice every day. They seem to be eating algae on the outside of there hole. Both of them are less than half a centimeter big so i dont think they will cause any problems for now. If they get any bigger and i see them come out of there burrow, bibi crabbys

ginger7286 · 05/17/2009, 08:52 AM

I believe gorilla crabs are only found in the waters of the Caribbean. If you did not get your rock from that area I doubt they are gorilla crabs. Check before you remove and destroy. Porcelain crabs are cool, I have two, a purple and a blue. They are filter feeders so they don't upset my tank. There are so many crabs out there good luck in the ID.

05/14/2009, 07:25 PM	#1
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	I.D. this crab i have a LR with a bunch of small holes. In some of the holes i see these little white crabs look like emerald crabs but are really small and white. They hang out on the edge of the whole. I think there are 2 or 3 of them. I cant tell if theyre nocturnal or not because i see them out at day and night. I cant get a picture because there too small. Any ideas? Are these good/bad? __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old

05/15/2009, 04:17 PM	#5
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	it definitely looks like a gorilla crab just not as hairy. Is that crab reef safe? __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old

05/16/2009, 06:18 AM	#7
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	There are 2 in the same crevice every day. They seem to be eating algae on the outside of there hole. Both of them are less than half a centimeter big so i dont think they will cause any problems for now. If they get any bigger and i see them come out of there burrow, bibi crabbys __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old

05/17/2009, 08:52 AM	#8
ginger7286 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lake Worth, Florida Posts: 728	I believe gorilla crabs are only found in the waters of the Caribbean. If you did not get your rock from that area I doubt they are gorilla crabs. Check before you remove and destroy. Porcelain crabs are cool, I have two, a purple and a blue. They are filter feeders so they don't upset my tank. There are so many crabs out there good luck in the ID. __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting "Holy crap...what a ride!" Current Tank Info: 125 Reef Tank, Precision Marine equipment with a live rock/sand filtration. 30G. Nano with 2 percs and a beautiful little Flaming Prawn Goby.

05/14/2009, 09:11 PM	#2
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	Gorilla crab. Google the term and look at the pics that come up. http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/413/1vq5.jpg

05/14/2009, 10:14 PM	#3
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Could be porcelain crabs. Those aren't harmful. But just about every other kind of crab can be.

05/14/2009, 10:29 PM	#4
Tylt33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chico, California Posts: 1,755	When in doubt, get them out.

05/15/2009, 04:37 PM	#6
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Nope. Not even close. Think gorilla warfare. You can try traps. You can try a hyposaline dip if you know what rock they're hiding in.