hitch hiker crab help id please

andiruleu · 04/24/2006, 09:00 PM

so this little fella decided to tag along... what kind of crab is it? one of its clipperlegs is gone, is it safe to keep it?

sorry for the blurry images..

skippysmind · 04/24/2006, 09:04 PM

Looks like an emerald crab, they are safe I have a few in my tank.

affan · 04/24/2006, 09:06 PM

I have an emerald crab, they're a blast to watch. Especially when they come out in the dark to feed. I love watching him pick up food to put in his mouth, looks like he's doing the robot.

andiruleu · 04/24/2006, 09:07 PM

hahaha dope.. but the leg is gone.. you think it'll come back?

skippysmind · 04/24/2006, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by andiruleu
hahaha dope.. but the leg is gone.. you think it'll come back?

Yep, after he molts.

andiruleu · 04/24/2006, 09:09 PM

koo thanks!

Amphiprion · 04/24/2006, 09:09 PM

It is a smaller specimen of a potentially bad crab. I believe it is one of the Xanthids. I would put it in a sump, refugium, or take him to a respectable LFS.

skippysmind · 04/24/2006, 09:13 PM

Does it look like this?
http://store1.yimg.com/I/yhst-635751...9_1890_7245016

andiruleu · 04/24/2006, 09:15 PM

hmmm
i lost him.. i dont know where he went now :\

affan · 04/24/2006, 09:17 PM

He's probably looking for his leg under some rock.

johnb0184 · 04/24/2006, 09:19 PM

i dont think that is an emerald. I am no expert though

skippysmind · 04/24/2006, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnb0184
i dont think that is an emerald. I am no expert though

I'm not either, just a guess.

affan · 04/24/2006, 09:28 PM

Well, now we can all safely assume that it is a crab of some kind. Maybe someone can tell us as to what kind now.

andiruleu · 04/24/2006, 09:37 PM

well it doesnt look green..

Brent Thomann · 04/24/2006, 10:05 PM

I had one come along in one of my rocks that looks very similar. found out that it might be a stone crab which will harm your tank. Mine took out one of my clown fish over night and probably a few others that have been missing. get rid of it if you can!

andiruleu · 04/24/2006, 10:31 PM

i caught the little fella... here are some pictures that might clearify him..

XeniaMania · 04/24/2006, 10:49 PM

Emeralds are called Emeralds because they're green. My personal recommendation is to put all crabs in the sump because even the "beneficial" emeralds will eat coralline algae. I think I did read somewhere though, that ones with black tipped claws are no good, but tha'ts probrably just reef urban legend..

andiruleu · 04/24/2006, 10:53 PM

since i dont have a sump.. can i put him in my HOB refugium?

Timothy01 · 04/24/2006, 10:54 PM

emralds also have a red version they are mithrax crabs(sp) i have 4 in my 80 and the claw in the 1st pic and the last would leave me to believe this is a diffrent species

XeniaMania · 04/24/2006, 10:58 PM

Yes you are correct about the color morphs, but I guess I was just being too anal about the words being used..

Either way, after I lost my beloved baby Blue Atlantic tang to crab predatation, my policy is if they cooperate, they can live happily in the sump/refugium. If they're stubborn, they will be exterminated in the rocks, and left as food for the worms.

Timothy01 · 04/24/2006, 11:04 PM

that claw leads me to believe he is a preditor

Me No Nemo · 04/24/2006, 11:09 PM

Yes, the black tips on the claws point to a Xanthid. I would remove him to a sump or refugium as they get big and mean. GL

Paintbug · 04/25/2006, 09:10 AM

deffinatly not a mithrax crab! looks more like a Xanthid to me as well. get it out ASAP

Brent Thomann · 04/25/2006, 09:35 AM

those pic's look identical to the little stone crab I have (can't catch it). HERES a pic of my tank so you can imagine how hard it would be. I witnessed him eat half the porties on my X-Mas rock and one of my clown fishes, missing several other fish that I'm sure he knows about too. mine is really small too. flush him, he's trouble!

Riptide10 · 04/25/2006, 09:43 AM

Yep xanthid. Not an emerald. Cool animal but I hear not safe for inverts and smaller fishes.

04/24/2006, 09:00 PM	#1
andiruleu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 631	hitch hiker crab help id please so this little fella decided to tag along... what kind of crab is it? one of its clipperlegs is gone, is it safe to keep it? sorry for the blurry images..

04/24/2006, 09:04 PM	#2
skippysmind Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 1,003	Looks like an emerald crab, they are safe I have a few in my tank. __________________ Jeff The best way to keep fish? Is in a frying pan, lightly breaded and seasoned with a little salt! Current Tank Info: No Tank!

04/24/2006, 09:09 PM	#7
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	It is a smaller specimen of a potentially bad crab. I believe it is one of the Xanthids. I would put it in a sump, refugium, or take him to a respectable LFS. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

04/24/2006, 09:13 PM	#8
skippysmind Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 1,003	Does it look like this? http://store1.yimg.com/I/yhst-635751...9_1890_7245016 __________________ Jeff The best way to keep fish? Is in a frying pan, lightly breaded and seasoned with a little salt! Current Tank Info: No Tank!

04/24/2006, 09:19 PM	#11
johnb0184 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Florissant, MO Posts: 310	i dont think that is an emerald. I am no expert though __________________ Man I wish I had that. Current Tank Info: six small fish & a few corals

04/24/2006, 09:06 PM	#3
affan Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: From NYC, currently serving time in Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 1,125	I have an emerald crab, they're a blast to watch. Especially when they come out in the dark to feed. I love watching him pick up food to put in his mouth, looks like he's doing the robot.

04/24/2006, 09:07 PM	#4
andiruleu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 631	hahaha dope.. but the leg is gone.. you think it'll come back?

04/24/2006, 09:15 PM	#9
andiruleu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 631	hmmm i lost him.. i dont know where he went now :\

04/24/2006, 09:17 PM	#10
affan Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: From NYC, currently serving time in Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 1,125	He's probably looking for his leg under some rock.

04/24/2006, 09:28 PM	#13
affan Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: From NYC, currently serving time in Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 1,125	Well, now we can all safely assume that it is a crab of some kind. Maybe someone can tell us as to what kind now.

04/24/2006, 09:37 PM	#14
andiruleu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 631	well it doesnt look green..

04/24/2006, 10:05 PM	#15
Brent Thomann Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: T. Tonawanda, NY Posts: 1,825	I had one come along in one of my rocks that looks very similar. found out that it might be a stone crab which will harm your tank. Mine took out one of my clown fish over night and probably a few others that have been missing. get rid of it if you can!

04/24/2006, 10:31 PM	#16
andiruleu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 631	i caught the little fella... here are some pictures that might clearify him..

04/24/2006, 10:49 PM	#17
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	Emeralds are called Emeralds because they're green. My personal recommendation is to put all crabs in the sump because even the "beneficial" emeralds will eat coralline algae. I think I did read somewhere though, that ones with black tipped claws are no good, but tha'ts probrably just reef urban legend..

04/24/2006, 10:53 PM	#18
andiruleu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 631	since i dont have a sump.. can i put him in my HOB refugium?

04/24/2006, 10:54 PM	#19
Timothy01 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 292	emralds also have a red version they are mithrax crabs(sp) i have 4 in my 80 and the claw in the 1st pic and the last would leave me to believe this is a diffrent species

04/24/2006, 10:58 PM	#20
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	Yes you are correct about the color morphs, but I guess I was just being too anal about the words being used.. Either way, after I lost my beloved baby Blue Atlantic tang to crab predatation, my policy is if they cooperate, they can live happily in the sump/refugium. If they're stubborn, they will be exterminated in the rocks, and left as food for the worms. Last edited by XeniaMania; 04/24/2006 at 11:08 PM.

04/24/2006, 11:04 PM	#21
Timothy01 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 292	that claw leads me to believe he is a preditor

04/24/2006, 11:09 PM	#22
Me No Nemo Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 2,337	Yes, the black tips on the claws point to a Xanthid. I would remove him to a sump or refugium as they get big and mean. GL __________________ “Life is life's greatest gift. Guard the life of another creature as you would your own because it is your own. On life's scale of values, the smallest is no less precious to the creature who owns it than the largest...” ( Dr. Lloyd Biggle Jr.) "In among the branches of the corals, like birds among trees, floated many beautiful fish, radiant with metallic greens or crimsons...." J. Beete Jukes 1842-46 Current Tank Info: 215 Oceanic, Dart Pump, Vortech MP 40's, ATI Powermodule 10x80 watts, 46 gallon freshwater planted tank, 3,500+ gallon backyard pond, 12 gallon mantis tank

04/25/2006, 09:10 AM	#23
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	deffinatly not a mithrax crab! looks more like a Xanthid to me as well. get it out ASAP __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

04/25/2006, 09:35 AM	#24
Brent Thomann Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: T. Tonawanda, NY Posts: 1,825	those pic's look identical to the little stone crab I have (can't catch it). HERES a pic of my tank so you can imagine how hard it would be. I witnessed him eat half the porties on my X-Mas rock and one of my clown fishes, missing several other fish that I'm sure he knows about too. mine is really small too. flush him, he's trouble! Last edited by Brent Thomann; 04/25/2006 at 10:11 AM.

04/25/2006, 09:43 AM	#25
Riptide10 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Billings, MT. Posts: 500	Yep xanthid. Not an emerald. Cool animal but I hear not safe for inverts and smaller fishes.