ID on crab?

[Nikki]

I was dipping all my LR in freshwater this afternoon to try and catch my hitchiking Mantis Shrimp and found this little guy instead. Any idea what type he is and whether he is reef-safe? I put him in the tank I had reservied for the Mantis Shrimp although I kind of wanted him in my main tank because he is so cute :-)

[camaroracer214]

it's kind of hard to tell for me due to the darkness of the picture. it kind of looks like an emerald mithrax crab (mithrax sculptus) but it could be another crab.

what color is it? are the crab's legs hairy in appearance?

[Nikki]

It is a very dark green to brown color and it has red eyes with white feelers around its mouth. Its back although uniform in color is bumpy as if it was mottled. I don't believe the legs were hairy.

[returnofsid]

Another good thing to look at is the tips of the claws. Are they black or darker than the rest of the claw? If so, it's most likely something you do NOT want in your tank.

[Ninong]

I don't think it's an emerald crab (Mithraculus sculptus) because they don't have red eyes. And from the photos, the legs don't look hairy at all.

I don't think I would keep any true crab, especially one with red eyes, in a reef aquarium.



P.S. -- The little tiny porcelain crabs are OK if you ever get one of those as a hitchhiker.

[camaroracer214]

yeah, not a mithrax...whatever it is, it's bad news. kill it --> freeze it in a cup of water.

[Kaptain-LokI]

It's hard to tell from the pictures but I think I have the same crab in one of my tanks. I asked some people about what it was and I was told it was a Godzilla crab, no scientific name I could find for it. The one in my tank, at least, hasn't caused any trouble, no missing fish, leather corals are still fine, mushrooms are fine. I can't say I know anything else about him other than he hasn't caused any trouble.

[Nikki]

Well I wish I could say the same for my crab, but between last night and right now I think he took out my newly purchased (expensive) coral banded shrimp and 1 of my 2 devil damsels. Now to get him I guess ..... darn ....

[SouthBayPhoto]

Unfortunately Nikki...ya gotta move faster. Sorry to hear about the coral banded shrimp and devil damsel.

[Nikki]

Actually I jumped to conclusions much too fast, the shrimp molted and the devil damsel had somehow jumped into the back compartment of my BioCube 14 where the pump is. Took a few hours to figure out how to get him out, but he is back in the main part now. Certainly wasn't the best configuration on the system! I saw the crab as well under a rock so I think I shoudl probably still get him out although I hate to dispose of him ...

[Ratpack]

I wouldn't dispose of him. Take him to the LFS and let them have him. I am sure there is someone that would like to have him in their tank, just not a reef tank.