Hey TBS What Crab Is This?

[dangles]

I saw this fella hiding in some of my rocks after I added TBS live sand. But then I didn’t see him for a few months. I assumed he didn’t make it, but tonight I saw his hairy legs amongst the rocks again. I played the (long) waiting game and this is the best I could come up with…


He’s very timid!

So @LiverockRocks what do you think?

 

[Airedale.Reef]

Looks like a Mithrax crab to me.

 

[JoJosReef]

Claws look a little too pointy and less spoon shaped to me. But I can't ID this one. @ISpeakForTheSeas maybe?

 

[littlefoxx]

I thought emerald crab, but the black claws are not normal for emeralds so Im inclined to say its not an emerald! @ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[Jekyl]

@LiverockRocks

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Claws look a little too pointy and less spoon shaped to me. But I can't ID this one. @ISpeakForTheSeas maybe?

I thought emerald crab, but the black claws are not normal for emeralds so Im inclined to say its not an emerald! @ISpeakForTheSeas

Yeah, I can't say what kind of crab from the video, but that would be rather odd coloration for an emerald crab, so I'm guessing it's probably not reef-safe.

 

[dangles]

Yeah, I can't say what kind of crab from the video, but that would be rather odd coloration for an emerald crab, so I'm guessing it's probably not reef-safe.

I saw him stalking a stomatella snail so I’m guessing you’re right

 

[LiverockRocks]

Black tipped and pointing claws mean trouble for your cuc...unless you feed the tank heavily.
I'd guess he's most similar to a gorilla.

 

[dangles]

Black tipped and pointing claws mean trouble for your cuc...unless you feed the tank heavily.
I'd guess he's most similar to a gorilla.

Nice

Best advice for capturing the lil guy? I don’t imagine it’s going to be easy lol

 

[Jekyl]

Nice

Best advice for capturing the lil guy? I don’t imagine it’s going to be easy lol

Bottle trap

 

[dangles]

Bottle trap

I assume other critters will get caught as well yeah?

 

[JoJosReef]

I assume other critters will get caught as well yeah?

Possibly. Some will be able to get out, like snails.

You can also set multiple small bottle traps. I used 3-4 Red Sea test vials with pieces of cocktail shrimp leaned at different angles in different places to catch gorilla crabs.

 

[dwest]

I don’t try to ID crabs anymore. I just look at the pincher size and the muscle around the pincher. Yours looks like a fish eater to me. I’d get rid of him.

I use a small piece of shrimp attached to a rock by a rubber band. I put this in a drinking glass tilted and set near the rock where the crab lives. I’ve caught many crabs this way. Eventually you’ll get him and a friend or two that you haven’t seen yet.

 

[dangles]

....and a friend or two that you haven’t seen yet.

You shut your dirty mouth

 

[JoJosReef]

You shut your dirty mouth

or a bobbit worm

 

[dangles]

Are we sure it’s not a juvenile emerald crab? I saw a couple of photos of young emerald crabs that look really similar

 

[dangles]

I found a molt!

Does this help clarify any?

The shell is about 1/2-3/4” and total width including legs is 1”

@LiverockRocks

 

[Mickle]

I found a molt!

Does this help clarify any?

The shell is about 1/2-3/4” and total width including legs is 1”

@LiverockRocks

Looks like a mud crab of some kind, heres a list of possibilities. Im not keen on crab identification but the claws having no white tip may lead to Florida Stone Crab aswell