Identify crab hitch hiker?

Aveet · 01/24/2018, 11:54 PM

Hello, so I'm new to the saltwater side of the hobby and don't know many of the endless critters yet. I have acquired live rock from a few local fish stores around me to get a variety of life.

I noticed when getting the rock ready I had a something fall off a rock that wasn't a snail or hermit. Not quite sure which species it is and if it's going to be relatively reef safe (I plan to add coral in the future).

Thanks for any help!

emilese · 01/25/2018, 01:58 AM

I believe it's a pom pom crab. It's a pretty interesting critter and is generally considered reef safe.

Cool hitch hiker!

Aveet · 01/25/2018, 02:05 AM

Okay thanks, after looking around it seems to be what I came up with too. I'm guessing the little white things are it's anemones. Hopefully they'll live.

Does anyone know if they will bother fan worms in the tank? I don't mind if they very occasionally mess up a hermit or snail for food though.

Cloudburst2000 · 01/25/2018, 02:20 AM

Reef safe and possibly the cutest hitchhiker ever

People pay good money to put pom pom crabs in their tanks so keep it. Only crab trained in tai chi

Pretty cool hitcher if you ask me.

Xxero · 01/25/2018, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aveet

Does anyone know if they will bother fan worms in the tank? I don't mind if they very occasionally mess up a hermit or snail for food though.

It is definitely a Pom-Pom (and a nice size!), but it shouldn't bother your fan worms. Pom-Poms stay hidden most of the time, but if you ever do see it, they usually rock side to side swaying their Anemone like nets trying to capture food bits out of the water column.

Aveet · 01/25/2018, 09:02 AM

I'm going to move it from the sump to the DT and see how it goes. It looks to be just over an inch wide, I know how cameras can distort size.

jlmawp · 01/26/2018, 10:11 AM

A little advice from someone who struggled with Pom-Poms. I would make sure to spot-feed it if possible, once in a while. I got the feeling that a tank without a lot of detritus and floating goodies in the water aren't the best for these guys.

It might be that I have a very small tank, but figured I'd throw in my experience/2 cents.

That said, it's fun to watch them do their little dances.

Aveet · 01/26/2018, 10:37 AM

I don't have many fish yet, but the little guy hangs out under the front rock. I have been feeding mysis to the crabs/snails until I feel comfortable enough for fish.

Hydrus · 01/26/2018, 01:04 PM

I love those guys! I buy them for my tank

01/25/2018, 01:58 AM	#2
emilese Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Taiwan (formerly, Atlanta area) Posts: 199	I believe it's a pom pom crab. It's a pretty interesting critter and is generally considered reef safe. Cool hitch hiker!

01/25/2018, 02:05 AM	#3
Aveet Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 50	Okay thanks, after looking around it seems to be what I came up with too. I'm guessing the little white things are it's anemones. Hopefully they'll live. Does anyone know if they will bother fan worms in the tank? I don't mind if they very occasionally mess up a hermit or snail for food though.

01/25/2018, 02:20 AM	#4
Cloudburst2000 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 1,485	Reef safe and possibly the cutest hitchhiker ever People pay good money to put pom pom crabs in their tanks so keep it. Only crab trained in tai chi Pretty cool hitcher if you ask me.

01/25/2018, 09:02 AM	#6
Aveet Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 50	I'm going to move it from the sump to the DT and see how it goes. It looks to be just over an inch wide, I know how cameras can distort size.

01/26/2018, 10:11 AM	#7
jlmawp Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 595	A little advice from someone who struggled with Pom-Poms. I would make sure to spot-feed it if possible, once in a while. I got the feeling that a tank without a lot of detritus and floating goodies in the water aren't the best for these guys. It might be that I have a very small tank, but figured I'd throw in my experience/2 cents. That said, it's fun to watch them do their little dances.

01/26/2018, 10:37 AM	#8
Aveet Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 50	I don't have many fish yet, but the little guy hangs out under the front rock. I have been feeding mysis to the crabs/snails until I feel comfortable enough for fish.

01/26/2018, 01:04 PM	#9
Hydrus Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 98	I love those guys! I buy them for my tank