Unidentified crab, sorry no pics yet

[Dazureus]

I just looked in my 8 month old tank this morning and peeking back at me in between the rocks was a crab I've never seen before. It's about 1 inch across the top carapace, rusty brown in color with bright red eyes. It's a little lighter color on the underside with large claws. Anyone have any thoughts as to what it might be or the danger level to the other inhabitants of my tank? I'll try to get some pictures.

[Dazureus]

Okay, here are some pictures, any idea?

[FishTechie]

ewww he sure doesnt loock friendly with that claw and red eyes...can you get to him to get him out?? if so i would either put him in the sump or taking to the lfs...hth

[eses]

I've got two of those in my 29gal tank. They are, for basic purposes, a rock crab. They will find a nook to hole up in, and drag shells, rocks, or anything else they can find to plug up the hole. I thought mine died several times already, only to discover their new hiding place.

In 1 1/2 years of having them I've only tried feeding them once, so they manage to survive off of stuff in the tank. They will come out at night, mine will usually wait until 2-4am .. and they are very shy. When they do come out, it only takes a minor amount of movement from anything to make them go running for cover.

I wouldn't kill it unless you really don't like it for some reason, I doubt it will harm anything. Their pincers are so small that I doubt they could harm anything larger than it .. it most likely feeds off of stuff in the sandbed.. I was pretty pleased to discover I had a pair in a piece of LR I bought when I first setup the tank.

Wes