Albino Crab with purple rings around its pinchers ?

[1stPhantom]

Just as the post stated so I’m currently out the house so I can’t take a picture right now so I went to my local store and they had this small crab that they had no clue what it was it’s all white with a little pink on the bottom and bottom tips of it legs but otherwise completely white with bright purple rings around its claw I was wondering if anyone has any clue what it is they had it with sand shifting snails if that helps any with Iding it

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

You're definitely going to need pics for an ID - straight-on pics of the top (looking down at the crab) that show the full body of the crab (including the legs) and straight-on pics of the face/claws (showing the shape/curve of the claws themselves where top and bottom part of the claw come together) are the most useful for crabs.

 

[Shon]

Only one I can immediately think of is an anemone porcelain crab. Does it look like this? (Check quotes)

Mine sometimes enjoys hanging with my torches.

I often see the term "porcelain crab" create some confusion. The two distinct genus I have come across in the trade are Neopetrolisthes which included species in the top pic, living in my anemone farm. The other genus being petrolisthes which contains many more species and therefore I would assume possible difference in habitats between species.

The second picture is a species of petrolisthes that I sold in my store.

PS. IME the anemone porcelain crab just like clown fish will often take up residence in a broad range of corals. Also, like clownfish, a anemone host is not critical.

Also it is a contention that they may not be true crabs, they are more related to squat lobsters. I include a picture of one of my squat lobsters (criniod hosting species)

For clarity and if anyone is interested, I just did a quick search, saves you the time and quicker than reaching for a book. The confusion may be due to the term "porcelain crab" which refers to a whole family level, so many genus and many many species. Porcellanidae (Haworth, 1825) Worms Register 06734 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:106734)

 

[Readywriter]

"Squat lobsters" now I know why porcelain crabs always looked wierd to me.

 

[kevgib67]

I’m just posting so I can see the picture when you post it. Sounds like a beautiful little crab, it would be a shame if it is not reef safe.

 

[1stPhantom]

thanks but it’s no where near that it’s like an emerald crab but just as I described it

 

[1stPhantom]

 

[1stPhantom]

I couldn’t get pictures of him in the tank he kept running and hiding in my rock work that’s the best I can do right now

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Any chance you could get the lighting a bit whiter and brighter in the pics?

 

[JNalley]

Just for future reference, when people ask for pictures, you need to turn off all the blue channels and turn up the white channels on your lights, then take the pictures... The overwhelming amount of blue in your photos is going to hinder ID

 

[Reefering1]

Try using your flash or a flashlight for pics

 

[1stPhantom]

 

[1stPhantom]

Is that better

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Is that better

The lighting is better, yeah - now just take that lighting and get a straight-on pic of the top of the crab similar to this one:

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like a daldorfia glasselli crab or even a jonesius crab

 

[1stPhantom]

Once he comes out I’ll do I uptop picture I can’t find him I think he buried himself in the sand because all (hidden) areas are visible from certain angles

 

[Readywriter]

Found a couple pics that look like matches for the body and claws but then the legs arent even a little similar.

 

[1stPhantom]

I thought it might have been a 4 ring purse crab but the body not the same

 

[Readywriter]

I thought it might have been a 4 ring purse crab but the body not the same

From what I can tell not a whole lot of crabs have legs that dont match the body at all, that should be the biggest clue id think.

 

[1stPhantom]

From what I can tell not a whole lot of crabs have legs that dont match the body at all, that should be the biggest clue id