crab like thing

[craig_will2513]

hi all. iv just noticed last week something crab like in my tank.. all iv seen of it is a long crab like claw poking out from my rock collecting food. but when i move to see what it is it moves very quickly back into the hole. it seems to like the dark and is super fast. iv not been able to get any pics as it is to fast but ill keep trying and post when i get one. like i say it likes the dark holes in my rock work and if i move close to the tank it disapears very fast. i think its a crab of some kind. there is no shell so i dont think its a hermit. and now iv noticed that my sulphur (yellow watchman goby) is missing and i am worried that this thing may have had him away.. any help would be welcomed. ill try get a pic soon

 

[kdpuffer]

Perhaps a mantis shrimp. Very awesome critters but bad news to other animals. They are known to kill fish so I would recommend catching it, pull rock and try to get it. If it is a mantis you can keep it in a species only tank or trade it. They can be worth decent coin. If it's not a mantis then qt it and post pics so it can be identified.

 

[craig_will2513]

i cant catch it as as soon as i go anywhere near it disapears in the rock so i cant get or see it

 

[rdnelson99]

Put the rock in the QT tank.

 

[kdpuffer]

So it's actually in the rock, that makes it difficult lol, ya put the rock in qt

 

[craig_will2513]

just added some pics finaly found him. they are both the same pic just one is zoomed in a lot. so any ideas

 

[tarpon]

A lfs near me has a mantis shrimp in a 6 gallon bio cube with corals. It is always hiding deep in the rockwork like this.

 

[carey]

Well its not a mantis. lol

 

[craig_will2513]

so any ideas what it is.. at ther min i have it floating about in a bag till i know if he is good or bad

 

[Badfishofbabylon]

it's not a mantis, it's a crab and by the looks of his claws he is bad. Most crabs are destructive, I wouldn't put him in your tank.

Here is a pic of my Peacock Mantis so people can see what they look like.

 

[craig_will2513]

can anyone possetivly id him me please i need a name...also can anyone els comfirm he is a baddie

 

[carey]

If in doubt leave him out. Good motto. BUT I would keep him alive in a cup or something until he is positively id'd. he might be a good guy

 

[Gubernaculum86]

Looks like a porcelain crab. If it is they are peaceful and reef safe

 

[craig_will2513]

so does anyone know for sure what he is...

 

[Badfishofbabylon]

there are 1000's of different crabs your probably won't get the right name. No it is not a porcelain. Here's a site you can look at
Crab Hitch Hikers

 

[craig_will2513]

many thanks people.. so what do i do with him.

 

[carey]

Either keep him in a sump if you got one, or be really humane and bring him to the lfs. I just couldnt bear to kill it. :-(

 

[Badfishofbabylon]

Do you have a sump?

 

[craig_will2513]

na no sump at the min he is in a sandwich bag filled with water floating in my tank. so i shouldnt release him

 

[kdpuffer]

Crab legs anyone? Lol, might be hungry after. Sorry couldn't resist, I agree that when in doubt leave it out. Trade it at the LFS is my suggestion.