crab ID, please

[EBR]

Hi -- I've got this crab that came along with the live rock for about a year -- he's grown quite nicely -- I've thought he was an emerald, but not sure with the coloring. Any ideas? In particular is it reef safe? I just got some of my first corals (zoos and xenia) and he went for it right away.

Any help?
Thanks.
Matt

 

[Fluff]

Looks like a strawberry mythrax crab. Not sure why it would go for your corals. I had emeralds that would pick around the stalks and hide under them but never actually picked the corals.

 

[dralarms]

I've got this crab that came along with the live rock for about a year --

Standard stone crab. I have one in my sump. He will eat anything he can get his claws on.

Get that sucker out of your tank and into your sump, if you don't have a sump then give him to someone who does. He will destroy your corals. 8O

 

[Fluff]

You may be right justmy2cents. I don't have alot of experience with rock crabs. The claws look like they have the flat tips though indicative of an algae eating crab. :? Even an algae eating crab can become a nuisance as it grows though. When in doubt, remove it.

 

[EBR]

crab ID, please - follow up

Thanks for the ID. Attached is nother shot that shows where the already-evicted mantis got the better of him. Anyway, he's in QT right now (the tilted glass worked like a champ

It's too bad he's not compatible. The little bugger's got a ton of personality that my 2 year old loves. Is there any other crab-like-critter that is reef safe? The cleaner and fireshimp are fun, but not nearly as active. If/when I evict the crab, it would be nice to replace him with something else.

Any recommendations?
As usual, thanks for the sanity check.
Matt

 

[dralarms]

Looking at that picture it may not be a stone crab after all, Mine does not have hairy legs. Still not safe if it's eating at your corals.