Please help ID crab!

WhiteTang · 07/15/2014, 05:06 PM

Hello fellow reefers!
Its been some time now that I found this crab in my tank. I am not sure if it is a pest or not. It doesnt seem to bother any corals or shrimps (sexy shrimp) I have in the tank and is happy to get out and be seen (sometimes).
I tried searching to ID it without any luck. Does anyone recognise what kind of crab this is? You can see a very clear video I took HERE. Just skip to 1:12 for a close-up.
Thanks in advance

risin · 07/15/2014, 05:16 PM

No idea what he is but he looks bada$$. Looks like pointy claws so little chance of being reef safe.

billdogg · 07/15/2014, 05:18 PM

I have no idea what kind it is, but it is one cool looking crab! Even if it turns out to be a troublemaker, I would find a place for it - be it sump/fuge/whatever.

mattgumaer · 07/15/2014, 07:20 PM

Awesome crab. No idea what it is but, if it's reef safe, I want one.

Matt

RobH · 07/15/2014, 07:24 PM

That is a really awesome looking crab! Your shrimp sure doesn't seem to fear him! I'd leave him since he's not hurting anything, although it did look like pointy claws and that seems to typically point towards not reef safe.

SwampyBill · 07/15/2014, 07:26 PM

I've never seen that kinda crab before, but it sure looks cool. You might name it Spike.

jamiepm · 07/15/2014, 07:26 PM

He looks cool, but I would not trust him at all. Those pointy little claws are perfect for ripping up corals.

imkelz · 07/15/2014, 08:15 PM

I had one of those once, take it out they get really huge really fast

loves2reef · 07/15/2014, 10:01 PM

ruby red mithrax crab. Same temper mentality as an emerald harmless when they are small.

WhiteTang · 07/16/2014, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imkelz

I had one of those once, take it out they get really huge really fast

Hmm you seem to be right. Cause it has doubled in size from a month ago I saw it. Did yours bother your corals, shrimps or anything in general?

J2T · 07/16/2014, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loves2reef

ruby red mithrax crab. Same temper mentality as an emerald harmless when they are small.

You must be looking at something else because that crab looks nothing like a mithrax crab. He is cool looking but I wouldn't trust him in my display....I wouldn't kill him, I'd sump him.

acabgd · 07/16/2014, 02:28 PM

So, anyone know what this is with certainty?

blackheart · 07/16/2014, 02:36 PM

crab = bad

WhiteTang · 07/16/2014, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acabgd

So, anyone know what this is with certainty?

Nope. Im really curious as to what it is. Anyway I will keep an eye on it. I wouldnt want my acan go missing. He can nip as much as he wants on the zoas though

WhiteTang · 07/16/2014, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackheart

crab = bad

Thats not true. Crabs are not bad. They are just like any other living thing. If you feed it it will be happy and leave everything alone.
I have a couple sexy shrimp and if i dont feed them one day they start nipping on zoas.

acabgd · 07/19/2014, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteTang

Hello fellow reefers!
Its been some time now that I found this crab in my tank. I am not sure if it is a pest or not. It doesnt seem to bother any corals or shrimps (sexy shrimp) I have in the tank and is happy to get out and be seen (sometimes).
I tried searching to ID it without any luck. Does anyone recognise what kind of crab this is? You can see a very clear video I took HERE. Just skip to 1:12 for a close-up.
Thanks in advance

Did you manage to find out what kind of a crab this is?

WhiteTang · 07/22/2014, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acabgd

Did you manage to find out what kind of a crab this is?

No. I havent

And since I posted that video I havent seen the little guy around...

acabgd · 07/22/2014, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteTang

No. I havent

And since I posted that video I havent seen the little guy around...

Meh... It really looks cool, never seen anything like it.

SeeCrabRun · 07/22/2014, 05:20 PM

Gorgeous crab. Wouldn't mind having him!

Mcgeezer · 07/22/2014, 06:20 PM

Dude that crab is awesome

Any of us will take him off your hands! Excellent find!

snowmonkey · 07/22/2014, 08:35 PM

Bummer he's missing, super cool crab!

Crooked Reef · 07/22/2014, 10:47 PM

I showed it to a couple of lfs in my area. One said some kind of gorilla crab, which I believe is wrong, and the other has no idea but sent a screen pic to a guy he knows that is supposedly a crab expert. If he hears back on an ID I will let you know. At first I thought it was a heart crab, but the carapace is not shaped right and that would make it a coldwater species unless there are tropical ones as well.

You may want to send a pm to liverock. That is the screen name for Tampa Bay Saltwater who is a sponser here. Im sure he has seen many kinds of hitchhikers on his product and may know what type of crab it is.

SeeCrabRun · 07/24/2014, 04:43 PM

It's been driving me crazy to figure out what this crab is and I think I may have it now.

It looks to be a xanthid crab from the Actaea Polyacantha species. http://www.guamreeflife.com/htm/inve...s_xanthids.htm

I'm by no means someone who is knowledgeable about this but I've been searching ever since I saw it and this is the closest I've found by far.

WhiteTang · 07/25/2014, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeeCrabRun

It's been driving me crazy to figure out what this crab is and I think I may have it now.

It looks to be a xanthid crab from the Actaea Polyacantha species. http://www.guamreeflife.com/htm/inve...s_xanthids.htm

I'm by no means someone who is knowledgeable about this but I've been searching ever since I saw it and this is the closest I've found by far.

I think you are right. The link you sent me shows a crab that looks a lot like mine! Thank you!

WhiteTang · 07/25/2014, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crooked Reef

I showed it to a couple of lfs in my area. One said some kind of gorilla crab, which I believe is wrong, and the other has no idea but sent a screen pic to a guy he knows that is supposedly a crab expert. If he hears back on an ID I will let you know. At first I thought it was a heart crab, but the carapace is not shaped right and that would make it a coldwater species unless there are tropical ones as well.

You may want to send a pm to liverock. That is the screen name for Tampa Bay Saltwater who is a sponser here. Im sure he has seen many kinds of hitchhikers on his product and may know what type of crab it is.

Thank you for the info and time spent!

I appreciate it!

07/15/2014, 05:06 PM	#1
WhiteTang Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 435	Please help ID crab! Hello fellow reefers! Its been some time now that I found this crab in my tank. I am not sure if it is a pest or not. It doesnt seem to bother any corals or shrimps (sexy shrimp) I have in the tank and is happy to get out and be seen (sometimes). I tried searching to ID it without any luck. Does anyone recognise what kind of crab this is? You can see a very clear video I took HERE. Just skip to 1:12 for a close-up. Thanks in advance

07/15/2014, 05:18 PM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I have no idea what kind it is, but it is one cool looking crab! Even if it turns out to be a troublemaker, I would find a place for it - be it sump/fuge/whatever. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/15/2014, 07:26 PM	#6
SwampyBill Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St. Pete, FL. Posts: 2,369	I've never seen that kinda crab before, but it sure looks cool. You might name it Spike. __________________ I love me some wrasse... & laissez les bon temps rouler! Current Tank Info: 120 gal Vizio

07/15/2014, 08:15 PM	#8
imkelz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sydney. NS Posts: 93	I had one of those once, take it out they get really huge really fast __________________ [ ><> ] Current Tank Info: 100g Display 10g Nano

07/16/2014, 02:36 PM	#13
blackheart Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Daytona Beach Posts: 892	crab = bad __________________ I have been cycling my tank for a month now with 75lbs of live rock when do I add the salt???? click the red house to see pics of my old tank....the better pics are at the bottom :D Current Tank Info: Back to the drawing board!!

07/15/2014, 05:16 PM	#2
risin Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 715	No idea what he is but he looks bada$$. Looks like pointy claws so little chance of being reef safe.

07/15/2014, 07:20 PM	#4
mattgumaer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 561	Awesome crab. No idea what it is but, if it's reef safe, I want one. Matt

07/15/2014, 07:24 PM	#5
RobH Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 81	That is a really awesome looking crab! Your shrimp sure doesn't seem to fear him! I'd leave him since he's not hurting anything, although it did look like pointy claws and that seems to typically point towards not reef safe.

07/15/2014, 07:26 PM	#7
jamiepm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 52	He looks cool, but I would not trust him at all. Those pointy little claws are perfect for ripping up corals.

07/15/2014, 10:01 PM	#9
loves2reef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 50	ruby red mithrax crab. Same temper mentality as an emerald harmless when they are small.

07/16/2014, 02:28 PM	#12
acabgd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belgrade Posts: 1,086	So, anyone know what this is with certainty?

07/22/2014, 05:20 PM	#19
SeeCrabRun Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 552	Gorgeous crab. Wouldn't mind having him! __________________ Sara ~ Perpetually tinkering with my tanks.

07/22/2014, 06:20 PM	#20
Mcgeezer Reef gardener Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: DeLand, Florida Posts: 1,205	Dude that crab is awesome Any of us will take him off your hands! Excellent find!

07/22/2014, 08:35 PM	#21
snowmonkey Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Gville NV Posts: 34	Bummer he's missing, super cool crab! __________________ Josh Current Tank Info: 40 bdr with 29 display fuge, 120 watt led, enheim pro3, prism skimmer

07/22/2014, 10:47 PM	#22
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	I showed it to a couple of lfs in my area. One said some kind of gorilla crab, which I believe is wrong, and the other has no idea but sent a screen pic to a guy he knows that is supposedly a crab expert. If he hears back on an ID I will let you know. At first I thought it was a heart crab, but the carapace is not shaped right and that would make it a coldwater species unless there are tropical ones as well. You may want to send a pm to liverock. That is the screen name for Tampa Bay Saltwater who is a sponser here. Im sure he has seen many kinds of hitchhikers on his product and may know what type of crab it is. __________________ “In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank. Last edited by Crooked Reef; 07/22/2014 at 10:58 PM.

07/24/2014, 04:43 PM	#23
SeeCrabRun Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 552	It's been driving me crazy to figure out what this crab is and I think I may have it now. It looks to be a xanthid crab from the Actaea Polyacantha species. http://www.guamreeflife.com/htm/inve...s_xanthids.htm I'm by no means someone who is knowledgeable about this but I've been searching ever since I saw it and this is the closest I've found by far. __________________ Sara ~ Perpetually tinkering with my tanks. Last edited by SeeCrabRun; 07/24/2014 at 04:48 PM.