Crab ID

[jonr]

Purchased a closed Brain today from the LFS and found this crab as a hitchhiker. Would appreciate an ID so I know whether or not it is reef safe and if I should put him in the tank. Thanks for the advice/info.

 

[slitherbomb]

If you have a sump/refugium put him there, otherwise throw it away. It looks like a gorilla crab to me, and honestly I would not risk it.

 

[Angelfish56]

It looks like a emerald crab are the legs hairy

 

[Biocube14]

Looks like my emerald.. Never seen a gorilla crab though.. And yes the emerald is fine to have..

 

[slitherbomb]

Is it green or brown? If it's an emerald crab then yeah, most people say they are reef safe. If it's brown then it is probably a gorilla crab.

 

[jonr]

Yes, legs are hairy. Claws are green, rest is hard to tell because it covered but brownish.

 

[Fischerman45]

Look up a Teddy bear and emerald crab. Looks to be a large emerald but
Hard to tell. Emeralds are reef safe

 

[mr_X]

no crabs are truly reef safe. i wouldn't execute him though. i'd keep an eye on him and see what behavior he shows first. if you have a sump or refugium, he might be better off in there.
he does look like an emerald crab to me. a member of the mithrax family. they are omnivores, which means they eat both meat and veggies!

 

[melosu58]

I agree with Mr X. Definitely looks like a member of the mithrax family. He should be OK. They will take care of bubble algea if you have any.

 

[Bonessurf]

Looks like his father was an emerald crab and his mother was a Teddy bear. But seriously, in the sump I would put him. Or watch and see if any polyps or other soft corals start to disappear.