Can someone tell me what this crab is?!?!?

[JesseMessykinn]

okay so I just found this crab in my tank today and I have no clue what it is or where it came from Im guessing it more likey came with my live rocks . funny thing is I had my tank up and running for 7months now and just today saw this little bugger so can anyone tell me what he/she is? I tried looking on online fish buying sites and goggle to try and find what it can be but yeah that didnt help lol

 

[Wolfsblood]

Its body shape looks like an emerald. Im not too familiar with crabs though.

 

[Convict2161]

Kinda like a emerald but that's white no? Here's some good reads. Let us know.

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchcrabs.html

Maybe google hairy crab also

 

[JesseMessykinn]

see that is what I was thinking as well, but yes its like white/tan-ish it blends in well with the sand in rocks

 

[User Name]

The crab appears to be either in the Xanthidae or Pilumnidae Family. Most would remove the crab. Better photos will be needed i think, if you are going to get an id.

 

[herp_mommy]

hairy legs are most often not reef safe, I would remove it.

 

[JesseMessykinn]

Thanks for all the input everyone... Now if only I can find that little one again I would try to take better photos of it, as well as try to get it out the tank.

 

[cobra2003rg]

It's an emerald crab deff

 

[Bonessurf]

Black tips on the claws and hair all over body... Not an emerald. Get rid of his [moderator edit] if its a reef. It'll be a risk to your corals.

 

[ccCapt]

Most definitely not an emerald crab. Look at those claws. They are made for ripping flesh. I would remove it the next time you see it.

 

[Jimbo C]

Looks like a decorator crab but I'm a novice so just my guess!

 

[Beengirl]

Maybe a Gorilla crab?? I would take him out.

 

[mr_X]

I would put him in the sump. I'm not an advocate for killing things that didn't ask to be taken from the ocean. A xanthid crab is what I'm thinking.

 

[Beengirl]

Oh yeah, don't kill it! Thats just mean. See if LFS will take it, or do like mr x said and put in sump if you have one.

 

[JesseMessykinn]

Im making a attempt to catch him now, I dont plan to kill the poor guy but hes coming out one way or another.

 

[User Name]

Good luck. Be sure to post some photos when you catch him.

 

[Spicemonkey]

Im making a attempt to catch him now, I dont plan to kill the poor guy but hes coming out one way or another.

Good luck on the capture. I waited hours while some young girl caught my first emerald crab cuz it kept getting lodged on a lr lol

 

[Beengirl]

If its inside a rock, you could just put the rock in a bucket of SW and wait for him to come out. He's gotta eat at some point, right?

 

[Spicemonkey]

Lol yeah that was at the lfs and she was very young lol
i thought i lost that one and went back for number 2 and this knewas caught immediately whew now i have found both in my tank hmmmm

 

[JesseMessykinn]

Victory! Busted trying to sneak around the net! I left a net in the tank since around 4am this morning, with a little mysis shrimp in it. I saw him sneaking around the back side of the net. I just turned the net around and pushed him in with fear or tongs! Muhaha! Jesse 1. Crab 0!

As for ID Im leaning toward Gorilla Crab, via youtube video. Ill Upload a Few pics later, Hes residing in my food mixing dish atm.