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View Full Version : Hitchhiker crab id


dtum
04/28/2012, 07:29 PM
Any help with this guy's id? I searched but could not find the same exact thing. The closes one was identified as spider/decorator crab.
And most importantly, is this guy reef safe? (He does not look like he is).

http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z464/tumanov/c29de821.jpg

http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z464/tumanov/91502bc1.jpg

matty0206
04/28/2012, 08:14 PM
Definitely a species of the majoidea family (spider/decorator) but not sure which. I believe they are considered reef safe in the fact that they don't eat corals and such but they do bother and wear the corals.

dzhuo
04/28/2012, 11:13 PM
Definitely a species of the majoidea family (spider/decorator) but not sure which.

My guess would be a Menaethius monoceros. Like most true crabs, they eat just about anything (including algae and meat) they can find. I would keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't misbehave.

Maaka
04/28/2012, 11:17 PM
My decorator crab has never harmed my reef. But it did pick up one of my new corals and put it on its back. It is still alive on him i see it ever now and then.

dtum
04/29/2012, 08:02 AM
My guess would be a Menaethius monoceros. Like most true crabs, they eat just about anything (including algae and meat) they can find. I would keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't misbehave.

Does not sound very assuring :) Oh well, decisions, decisions. I don't want to kill the guy but a bit afraid for my other corals.

SushiGirl
04/29/2012, 11:29 AM
Take it to your LFS.