crab ID

[tosiek]

Yay. so i found a crab hitchhiker in my tank that i haven't seen since the first day of my new tank (couldn;t catch the little bugger). This is very similar to what he looks like. Minus hairy legs, but he's a bit darker, with red eyes, and no hair at all. Seen him feeding on algae. I have seen bones of fish i have lost (due to them not acclimating properly or other fish stressing them out) within a day or two of me not beeing able to find them. Anyone have any experience or knowledge on them besides the "GET HIM OUT NOW! he looks mean" which i am planning on.

BTW he is alot smoother. As smooth as a porcelain crab. Looks kinda like a pebble when he's all curled up.....with red eyes....

He looks nasty. And i haven't caught him yet. First time i have seen him in the past 5 or so months. I know where he hides........

 

[DevIouS]

Pic not showing up due to "hot-linking"

 

[tosiek]

fixed. =0)

 

[DevIouS]

Stone or Rock crab....


Seclude him!

 

[ellebelle]

He does look mean.

 

[Liz]

Looks like the brother to the Gorilla crab i had for a bit...lil bugger wouldn't leave!:smash:

 

[cybermeez]

One way to know a little more about him is to look at the tips of his claws. If they look a little flattened where the tips meet then odds are your hithhiker primarily eats algae. However, most crabs will eat whatever they can get their claws on if there is not enough of their preferred food.

Xanthis crabs in the wild are know to live with corals and protect them from Crown of Thorn Starfish. Though they do eat mucus and some polyps they generally don't really do much harm. I'm not sure if that would also be the case in captivity, but I found an interesting species profile here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/blueplanet/factfiles/crustaceans/xanthid_crab_bg.shtml

If it turns out he's up to no good I'd catch him (often easier said than done) and move him into my refugium or sump. Crabs can be very interesting little animals.

I also found a bunch of cool crab photos here:
http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/hitchcrabs.html

 

[crox99]

Kill that little MF.

 

[cybermeez]

Kill that little MF.

Now, be nice.
Like my mother used to say..."Don't make me come back there!" :smash: