Another hitchhiking unidentified crab

[hdtran]

Asked him (her?) for his driver's license; wouldn't fess up.

From the Florida gulf of mexico area (Tampa Bay Saltwater rock).

Any ID's, please?

Thanks!

 

[TZL]

what do the claws look like?

it looks kinda like a red emerald (mithrax) crab.... can be good

 

[Anonymous]

THAT's the little buggers I mentioned here:

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=40022

Tips of the claws are flat, and so far only seen picking at corraline and some macros...

(THANK YOU hdtran )

 

[hdtran]

The crab is from Florida, I didn't call him Chad

On reefcentral, it was ID'ed as a red variety of emerald crab (Mithrax Sculptus), along with a few other choice names (blue airstone crab, etc.) 8)

I guess that makes Chad a red emerald Mithrax. Generally eats algae (according to Fenner; Fenner/Calfo), but has been known to eat soft corals.

 

[Anonymous]

Just my 2cents - mithrax can become a problem even if well fed. Watch out when he molts a few times.