Please Help ID this Hermit Crab

[bob21115]

Can someone please help ID this hermit crab:

http://myreef.dyndns.org/images/rc/snail4.jpg
http://myreef.dyndns.org/images/rc/snail1.jpg
http://myreef.dyndns.org/images/rc/snail2.jpg
http://myreef.dyndns.org/images/rc/snail3.jpg
http://myreef.dyndns.org/images/rc/snail5.jpg

[Sk8r]

Well, it's not a scarlet, and not a blue-leg.

[bob21115]

Darn I was hoping he was a Blue leg :lol: :lol:

[graveyardworm]

I would just refer to it as ugly.

[bob21115]

He is damn ugly...... Only a face a mother crab could love.

[EricBrian]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7548542#post7548542 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bob21115
He is damn ugly...... Only a face a mother crab could love.

:lol:

[Kent E]

Wow, it's webbed. Never saw that before.

[ACBlinky]

I've NEVER seen a hermit anything like that! Looks like he's got skin over all his limbs, very odd indeed. I'd try to find a crab or invert forum - there has to be one out there somewhere - where you may be lucky enough to run into a hermit expert who can ID your little monster. Meanwhile, I'd keep him isolated (maybe in the sump?)... something about that face, he just looks like trouble to me ;)

[Hunter21]

he kinda looks like my little white crab I have in my tank, my white crab is starting to turn a deep purplish-red like yours though! is yours kinda white when he was in the tank?

Erin

[LeslieH]

A picture with him in water would be much more helpful (plus any information on the geographic area he might be from). When animals are out of water their appendages don't show properly.

[bob21115]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7549741#post7549741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hunter21
he kinda looks like my little white crab I have in my tank, my white crab is starting to turn a deep purplish-red like yours though! is yours kinda white when he was in the tank?

Erin

I thought the same thing. When I bought my cleanup crew 2 years ago we saw this really cool white crab in the tank he was small and thought he would be ok. I wonder if he's the same crab.

Thanks
GO Blue "you knok I had to" :lol:

[bob21115]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7549810#post7549810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LeslieH
A picture with him in water would be much more helpful (plus any information on the geographic area he might be from). When animals are out of water their appendages don't show properly.

I tried to find a container to take a picture of him in but everything I have has a round base and makes him look like he's in a fun house with all the mirror's. I'll try and find something else.

I beleive I got him 2 years ago in a clean-up crew package I got from eBay the seller lives in florida. I'll email him and ask about where he gets his crabs from.

[55semireef]

bob21115, I have a crab just like that in my tank. i never figured out to what it was.

[bob21115]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7552183#post7552183 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
bob21115, I have a crab just like that in my tank. i never figured out to what it was.

Have you noticed any damage?

[55semireef]

Nope. Actully, that crab disappeared. It didn't seem that hardy. It probably died, maybe bc it was a specialized feeder. No damage done though. Cool looking crab.

[Hunter21]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7550594#post7550594 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bob21115
I thought the same thing. When I bought my cleanup crew 2 years ago we saw this really cool white crab in the tank he was small and thought he would be ok. I wonder if he's the same crab.

Thanks
GO Blue "you knok I had to" :lol:

The one I have in my tank hasn't done any harm and I've had him over a yr. now! He cleans the algae really well and cleans any leftover food and fish waste in a timely manner as well. The LFS called him a decorator crab, but I knew he wasn't lol :lol: so I asked for a dozen blue legs and he somehow ended up in my bunch which was ok with me! lol

Erin

GO BUCKS!!! :D

[bob21115]

Gotta love some LFS's..

[55semireef]

I once got an Electric Blue Crab in a large mix of dwarf blue legs. Pretty sweet.

[bob21115]

I put him in back in my fuge. He the only hermit in there, and will be easy to catch if I need to.

[skippy2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7556336#post7556336 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hunter21
The one I have in my tank hasn't done any harm and I've had him over a yr. now! He cleans the algae really well and cleans any leftover food and fish waste in a timely manner as well. The LFS called him a decorator crab, but I knew he wasn't lol :lol: so I asked for a dozen blue legs and he somehow ended up in my bunch which was ok with me! lol

Erin

GO BUCKS!!! :D

This is a decorator crab. Now I just need somebody to get him out of my tank. He scares the bejessus out of me.:)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/skippy2/deccrabdisplay6-13-06.jpg

[55semireef]

That looks awsome. I am getting some soon at the KEyes. They are so cool.

[bob21115]

I thought it was live rock when I first look at the picture. He cool why dont you like him?

[skippy2]

When I first got him he was so small. Now he is the size of my fist. What's scary is I have had him only 6 months. He decorates himself with sponges, zoo polyps, mushrooms and whatever else he thinks will camafloge him. When he is up by a coral or a piece of lr I can't see him till he moves. That's how full of MY corals he is!!!

[55semireef]

Thats sweet. lol. I want one bad. Do they harm corals?

[bob21115]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7562705#post7562705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
Thats sweet. lol. I want one bad. Do they harm corals?

There not suppose to, but it depends on what you would call harm. If he rips off coral and zoo's and such I think I would call that harm.

skippy2 How big is your tank and could you return him to a LFS?

[skippy2]

My tank is a 75. I have a friend who wants him but I have no idea how to get him out. I really am scared of him.
The premise behind a decorator crab being reefsafe is that he does help to spread corals around the tank.

[55semireef]

To some extent, I am sure they can harm but if its a small piece, it probably won't be that bad if its a tank with good parm. for the coral to make an easy recovery. I wonder if mushrooms actually start growing on them when they rip off pieces of the shrooms. Esentially that is fragging a mushroom right?

[smy168]

it looks...gooey