Teddy Bear Reef Safe?

[dustins]

I recently found a Teddy Bear crab in my tank. I haven't been able to find much info on it, and what I have found is conflicting. Some say it is reef safe, and some say it isn't. Anybody have an opinion?

I also have only found info and pics of white Teddy Bear crabs, but mine is brown. Does anyone know if this is a different species or just a color morph.

If anyone has any experience with this crab, or any info at all, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[dustins]

Here's a pic:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m155/oneoak/hitchikercrab.jpg

[Sk8r]

Cute, but I wouldn't trust him. Your sump would be a good home for him, a refugium even better.

[ERICinFL]

I second the sump/fuge idea. These buggers can get large enough to start killing and eating your fish.

[ronjeremy]

oohhh, that thing just looks evil..i wouldn't take a chance..LOL

[Bebo77]

i say kill it...http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/sarge/Guillotine_anim.gif

[dustins]

I think I'll let it hang out in my fuge for a while. They are supposedly very rare, and the brown ones even rarer so I thin k I'll let him live.

[rowland75]

Id sump him too, he didnt choose to be in your tank so let him live, and if he came by accident chances are he's bad.

[acrylic_300]

Start a nano for it...I would. It looks like a cool rare pet.

[greenbean36191]

They are supposedly very rare, and the brown ones even rarer
Huh? Where did you hear that?

[dustins]

Greenbean:

This is where I read it was rare :

http://www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/detail.php?cat=52&de=5296

And any info I've found on it says that they are almost always white or beige, so I would assume that the Brown variation is rarer than the white or beige.

Do you have any other info on it? If so, I'd love to see it as I haven't found much but opinion.

[dustins]

I guess in the link above, he is trying to sell it, so it would be in his best interest to list it as "rare and hard to find".

[greenbean36191]

This one looks to be in the family Polymnidae, and probably in the genus Polymnus. They're fairly common everywhere they're found, and not that uncommon in the hobby. They come in various shades of brown and tan.

Like almost all crabs they're opportunistic feeders, so not that well suited to a reef tank.