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11/20/2006, 12:18 AM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1
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Mud crab???
Anyone had a mud crab in their tank? At least that is what I think I see. This guy is probably 2-3" in diameter and looks like a tarantula. Anyway, I was told that it might be a mud crab and probably got into the tank from some live rock I added. I understand they can do some damage to my reef system, any suggestions or comments?
Thanks |
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11/20/2006, 12:43 AM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 96
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hey there. If it is the same type of mud crab as there are in northern australia, I would get them out, they are large predatory and very powerful
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11/20/2006, 01:25 AM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 26
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get it out now, i think its also called a gorilla crab
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Chris Current Tank Info: 30L, 250w HQI, Remora Pro, HOB Refugium. |
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11/23/2006, 07:13 PM
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#4 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Winter Park, FL
Posts: 1,506
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there are saltwater "spiders"....and I think they are all bad. Check out melves site for some ID pics.
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Bristle worms are evil and need to be eradicated, at night they creep out of the tank and charge internet porn to your credit cards....ask me how I know. Anyone else notice that anthelia smells like fresh cut water chestnuts? ....they call me chad Current Tank Info: 1 crashed 75 gal..it was really beautiful while it lasted. |
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11/24/2006, 12:25 AM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Canberra, Australia
Posts: 77
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Just agreeing with lucifersreef, I live in Northern Australia, and I commonly catch mud crabs up here with a carapace width of at least 20cm.
They grow big, they grow fast and they grow strong. Their claws can nip toes off with little effort, and unfortunately i've seen it. They are beautiful creatures but probably not desired in a reef aquarium. Below are two links about them, the first is to help with identification, the second is just some neat photos. http://www.sea-ex.com/fishphotos/crab,mud.htm http://www.absoluteseafoods.com/crabs.html Caynus |
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11/24/2006, 12:28 AM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Canberra, Australia
Posts: 77
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Just a side note too. These crabs are also not called gorilla crabs. They are a totally different crustaceans.
Sea spiders (Class Pycnogonida) dont resemble mud crabs at all so you can rule that out too. Caynus |
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11/24/2006, 07:30 AM
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#7 |
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Premium Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Ft. Lauderdale
Posts: 10,598
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Around these parts, mud crabs could be one of a few species. One is a little tiny thing you find in oyster beds. Blue crabs and fiddlers also go by that name. It would help to know which crab we're talking about, but ir probably makes no real difference. It's unlikely that any crabs that go by this name are reef safe.
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Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up |
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