Crab - friend or foe?

WhiskeyCoffee · 09/17/2016, 11:18 PM

Found while moving some rock around, was fortunate enough to snag and detain him. Should I keep him or toss him?

cubbyman60 · 09/17/2016, 11:47 PM

I'm guessing foe. Google Chuck's addiction hitch hikers for more images.

Bent · 09/18/2016, 12:18 AM

That doesn't look like a xanthid to me. His claws look very algae eaterish....

I dunno though.

SeaCucumberFan · 09/18/2016, 12:35 AM

It doesnt look like xanthid. The claws are for eating algae. If I'm not mistaken, I also have these in my tank (but with hairy legs) and they dont bother anybody so it should be fine.

Dkuhlmann · 09/18/2016, 03:42 AM

I don't trust any crab with one exception, the Scarlet legged hermit. Even the so called "safe" xanthid crabs aren't safe.

I think the acropora and porcelain crabs are safe from what I've read.

Did you know that the xanthid crabs are poisonous? Yep they carry palytoxin. Also they can and will eat live fish and corals.

I decided to change my post, but I also want to add that you should get rid of it. IMO

SeaCucumberFan · 09/18/2016, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

I don't trust any crab with one exception, the Scarlet legged hermit. Even the so called "safe" xanthid crabs.

Did you know that they're poisonous? Yep they carry palytoxin. Also they can and will eat live fish. I had one in my tank to eat algae, once it got to a large adult size it started going after fish. I had a small Royal Gramma disappear then got a replacement. Well a few days after getting the new one I caught the bastard with my RG in his claws eating it where it would sleep.

They will also eat corals once your algae is gone.

So mine lives in my sump along with several blue legged hermits because they too are murderous bastards

Ai iz dissagreh wit u. I haz wun milyun ov crabs

Dkuhlmann · 09/18/2016, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaCucumberFan

Ai iz dissagreh wit u. I haz wun milyun ov crabs

Wait until it is mature. Oh and by the way, I know you can speak and type English so please drop the slang, it's tacky and makes you appear to not be so smart.

You can disagree with me all you want to, but facts are just that facts and something that DID happen. It's not an opinion.

A sea K · 09/18/2016, 04:16 AM

The claws do suggest an algae eater of some sort but I would banish him to the sump.

SeaCucumberFan · 09/18/2016, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

Wait until it is mature. Oh and by the way, I know you can speak and type English so please drop the slang, it's tacky and makes you appear to not be so smart.

You can disagree with me all you want to, but facts are just that facts and something that DID happen. It's not an opinion.

They are all mature. I know this because most of them are 3in+

shadow64 · 09/18/2016, 08:44 AM

black claws=sump

R_Hudson · 09/18/2016, 09:14 AM

I always had a practice that if I was uncertain what it was I either removed and took back to the lfs ( generally they can ID for sure or take it off your hands) or toss it in the sump to fend for itself. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

johnike · 09/19/2016, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

I don't trust any crab with one exception, the Scarlet legged hermit. Even the so called "safe" xanthid crabs aren't safe.

I think the acropora and porcelain crabs are safe from what I've read.

Did you know that the xanthid crabs are poisonous? Yep they carry palytoxin. Also they can and will eat live fish and corals.

I decided to change my post, but I also want to add that you should get rid of it. IMO

I agree.

deleau · 09/19/2016, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R_Hudson

I always had a practice that if I was uncertain what it was I either removed and took back to the lfs ( generally they can ID for sure or take it off your hands) or toss it in the sump to fend for itself. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

I toss them in my mantis tank (a.k.a. Thunderdome); they make for good mantis food. Get the world out to your friends and they will supply you with all the castaways you need to keep your mantis fed.

johnike · 09/19/2016, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deleau

I toss them in my mantis tank (a.k.a. Thunderdome); they make for good mantis food. Get the world out to your friends and they will supply you with all the castaways you need to keep your mantis fed.

Lol, I do the same thing! Scored 3 big food crabs just yesterday for sump mantis.

Bent · 09/20/2016, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnike

Lol, I do the same thing! Scored 3 big food crabs just yesterday for sump mantis.

I wonder how grump would fare against a mantis. He's huge now. About the size of a baseball.

Dkuhlmann · 09/20/2016, 05:53 AM

Come on Ben, You know the rules. Start posting

eastlake · 09/20/2016, 06:20 AM

Best to be on the safe side and let that little bugger rule the sump

johnike · 09/20/2016, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bent

I wonder how grump would fare against a mantis. He's huge now. About the size of a baseball.

Wutcha doin next Friday?

SeaCucumberFan · 09/20/2016, 07:29 AM

Giant crab VS Mantis shrimp would be a viral video

Bent · 09/20/2016, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnike

Wutcha doin next Friday?

Lol

I think he'd hold his own. He's mean.

Dkuhlmann · 09/20/2016, 09:35 AM

I got $20 on the mantis shrimp

johnike · 09/20/2016, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

I got $20 on the mantis shrimp

I know what you're doing next Friday night!

Dkuhlmann · 09/20/2016, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnike

I know what you're doing next Friday night!

Yes Sir!

John, there's a thread has your name on it in the Reef discussion forum, yes literally has your name on it

jrp1588 · 09/20/2016, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaCucumberFan

Giant crab VS Mantis shrimp would be a viral video

There are a number of these videos on youtube. The mantis always wins.

saf1 · 09/20/2016, 07:02 PM

Personally it looks like a emerald to me. Those claws are not shiny, black, or pointy. They look like something which would pry pieces of algae or scrape. If nothing is damaged so far I'd let it ride but watch. After all, you just noticed and caught it.

If you are unsure, and have a spot to put the detained (interesting choice of wording by the way, made me giggle) then do that. Can always watch them in there while in detention

Edit: Emerald crabs typically have orange or red on their main claws arms. You can do a search and verify / compare.

09/17/2016, 11:18 PM	#1
WhiskeyCoffee Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 98	Crab - friend or foe? Found while moving some rock around, was fortunate enough to snag and detain him. Should I keep him or toss him?

09/18/2016, 12:18 AM	#3
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	That doesn't look like a xanthid to me. His claws look very algae eaterish.... I dunno though. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

09/18/2016, 03:42 AM	#5
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	I don't trust any crab with one exception, the Scarlet legged hermit. Even the so called "safe" xanthid crabs aren't safe. I think the acropora and porcelain crabs are safe from what I've read. Did you know that the xanthid crabs are poisonous? Yep they carry palytoxin. Also they can and will eat live fish and corals. I decided to change my post, but I also want to add that you should get rid of it. IMO __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300 Last edited by Dkuhlmann; 09/18/2016 at 03:50 AM.

09/18/2016, 04:16 AM	#8
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	The claws do suggest an algae eater of some sort but I would banish him to the sump. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

09/18/2016, 09:14 AM	#11
R_Hudson Just having fun Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Tulsa, Ok. Posts: 990	I always had a practice that if I was uncertain what it was I either removed and took back to the lfs ( generally they can ID for sure or take it off your hands) or toss it in the sump to fend for itself. I'd rather be safe than sorry. __________________ I don't pay to have my dirty work done for me. I do it myself. Ted Nugent

09/17/2016, 11:47 PM	#2
cubbyman60 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 73	I'm guessing foe. Google Chuck's addiction hitch hikers for more images.

09/18/2016, 12:35 AM	#4
SeaCucumberFan Moved On Join Date: May 2016 Location: Sleman, Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia Posts: 858	It doesnt look like xanthid. The claws are for eating algae. If I'm not mistaken, I also have these in my tank (but with hairy legs) and they dont bother anybody so it should be fine.

09/18/2016, 08:44 AM	#10
shadow64 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 78	black claws=sump

09/20/2016, 05:53 AM	#16
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Come on Ben, You know the rules. Start posting __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

09/20/2016, 06:20 AM	#17
eastlake Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: willoughby Posts: 648	Best to be on the safe side and let that little bugger rule the sump Last edited by eastlake; 09/20/2016 at 06:21 AM. Reason: didnt look close enough to see that it was not a swimmer crab

09/20/2016, 07:29 AM	#19
SeaCucumberFan Moved On Join Date: May 2016 Location: Sleman, Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia Posts: 858	Giant crab VS Mantis shrimp would be a viral video

09/20/2016, 09:35 AM	#21
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	I got $20 on the mantis shrimp __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

09/20/2016, 07:02 PM	#25
saf1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: California Posts: 2,259	Personally it looks like a emerald to me. Those claws are not shiny, black, or pointy. They look like something which would pry pieces of algae or scrape. If nothing is damaged so far I'd let it ride but watch. After all, you just noticed and caught it. If you are unsure, and have a spot to put the detained (interesting choice of wording by the way, made me giggle) then do that. Can always watch them in there while in detention Edit: Emerald crabs typically have orange or red on their main claws arms. You can do a search and verify / compare. __________________ -saf1 Current Tank Info: 210 gallon mixed reef