New hitchhiker crab - Aquarium Advice

DurTBear · 02-28-2007, 01:29 AM

Anyone know what he is and if he's good or bad? I just noticed him for the first time as he was crawling out of a little cave today. I tried to attach a link to a video too but I don't know if it will work.

http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...nt=Newcrab.flv

**Ziggy953** · 02-28-2007, 02:37 AM

Can you get a better pic of him? It looks a little like a mithrax crab....which would be a good crab....At least I think so...I have 3 in my tank but I paid for them. Does it look like this?
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=628

DurTBear · 02-28-2007, 02:47 AM

Sorry about the poor quality pic but I don't think I can do better than that. Don't even know if I'll see him for a while as it was a surprise to see him today for the first time. I haven't been able to find him since. But he does sort of resemble an emerald mithrax crab (I have one that I bought from the LFS) except he's not green. He's more gray/black and also seems to have hair on his body as well in addition to his legs.

**Ziggy953** · 02-28-2007, 04:53 AM

I'm not sure...I don't know a lot about crabs....we'll have to wait for some of the others to chime in....

Fluff · 02-28-2007, 08:10 AM

I agree it looks like it could be a mythrax but a better picture would be needed. Mythrax crabs are said to be reef safe but I would suggest caution and a watchful eye as crabs are opportunistic and will eat anything if it's hungry enough.

**roka64** · 02-28-2007, 09:00 AM

You sure that isn't a gorilla crab? It looks like it has hair in it's back (I didn't think the mithrax did). It is hard to tell, what color are the end of his pinchers?

Sadielynn · 02-28-2007, 12:52 PM

The pinchers look tan incolor either way I would not trust any crab in our system . If you have a sump that is a good home for him . I agree with Fluff they are opertunistic little boogers . I say pick him and flick him ....

DurTBear · 02-28-2007, 01:23 PM

Yeah, his pinchers are tan at the ends and he does appear to have hair on his back. If I see him again, I'll try and get better pictures but he was really shy and would run back toward that cave every time I got close.

Any suggestions on how to catch him? Any DIY crab traps? Thanks guys! You guys are always so helpful!

**roka64** · 02-28-2007, 02:13 PM

If his pinchers are that color, I would go with what Fluff and the others say. As for a trap, use a glass and lean it up next to where he hides. Put some food in the glass and once he gets in there, he should't be able to get back out.

DurTBear · 02-28-2007, 02:38 PM

Thanks roka64...Just did a search on crab traps and saw your suggestion of using the glass method. I will try to catch that sucker tonight but I bet the emerald crab gets in there too. He's a greedy little guy and when I throw a piece of algae mat/seaweed in there, he grabs at it and runs away while he munches away at it.

Thanks for the crab trap trick!

02-28-2007, 01:29 AM	#1
DurTBear Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 102 Images: 14	New hitchhiker crab Anyone know what he is and if he's good or bad? I just noticed him for the first time as he was crawling out of a little cave today. I tried to attach a link to a video too but I don't know if it will work. http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...nt=Newcrab.flv

02-28-2007, 08:10 AM	#5
Fluff Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: West Virginia Posts: 9,541 Images: 29	I agree it looks like it could be a mythrax but a better picture would be needed. Mythrax crabs are said to be reef safe but I would suggest caution and a watchful eye as crabs are opportunistic and will eat anything if it's hungry enough. __________________ ~Cindy Join the W. MD/WV Regional Forum Here

02-28-2007, 09:00 AM	#6
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,245 Images: 12	You sure that isn't a gorilla crab? It looks like it has hair in it's back (I didn't think the mithrax did). It is hard to tell, what color are the end of his pinchers? __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

02-28-2007, 12:52 PM	#7
Sadielynn Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,243	The pinchers look tan incolor either way I would not trust any crab in our system . If you have a sump that is a good home for him . I agree with Fluff they are opertunistic little boogers . I say pick him and flick him .... __________________ Sadielynn Nanoreefing site 2 nanos 10 gallons

02-28-2007, 02:13 PM	#9
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,245 Images: 12	If his pinchers are that color, I would go with what Fluff and the others say. As for a trap, use a glass and lean it up next to where he hides. Put some food in the glass and once he gets in there, he should't be able to get back out. __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

02-28-2007, 02:37 AM	#2
Ziggy953 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sumerduck, Virginia Posts: 3,338 Images: 5	Can you get a better pic of him? It looks a little like a mithrax crab....which would be a good crab....At least I think so...I have 3 in my tank but I paid for them. Does it look like this? http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=628

02-28-2007, 02:47 AM	#3
DurTBear Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 102 Images: 14	Sorry about the poor quality pic but I don't think I can do better than that. Don't even know if I'll see him for a while as it was a surprise to see him today for the first time. I haven't been able to find him since. But he does sort of resemble an emerald mithrax crab (I have one that I bought from the LFS) except he's not green. He's more gray/black and also seems to have hair on his body as well in addition to his legs.

02-28-2007, 04:53 AM	#4
Ziggy953 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sumerduck, Virginia Posts: 3,338 Images: 5	I'm not sure...I don't know a lot about crabs....we'll have to wait for some of the others to chime in....

02-28-2007, 01:23 PM	#8
DurTBear Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 102 Images: 14	Yeah, his pinchers are tan at the ends and he does appear to have hair on his back. If I see him again, I'll try and get better pictures but he was really shy and would run back toward that cave every time I got close. Any suggestions on how to catch him? Any DIY crab traps? Thanks guys! You guys are always so helpful!

02-28-2007, 02:38 PM	#10
DurTBear Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 102 Images: 14	Thanks roka64...Just did a search on crab traps and saw your suggestion of using the glass method. I will try to catch that sucker tonight but I bet the emerald crab gets in there too. He's a greedy little guy and when I throw a piece of algae mat/seaweed in there, he grabs at it and runs away while he munches away at it. Thanks for the crab trap trick!

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