Hitchhiker Crab, finally nabbed!

returnofsid

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Finally caught the bugger. I've been slowly working on the 40, getting it cleaned up, as I move corals back into the 200. About a month or so ago, I saw this crab, but couldn't catch it. I knew I was going to be tearing into the 40 soon, so didn't try any of the known crab trapping tricks. I just figured when I started cleaning up the 40, I'd find and catch it. I didn't plan for it to take this long...lol. In the meantime, I believe this guy is to blame for the disappearance of several Zoanthid colonies. I have no idea where this guy came from, as there's been nothing at all added to this tank, in over a year...lol. Musta been tiny when it was introduced.

I've tentatively Id'd it as a Atergatis floridus. A. floridus is a member of the Xanthid family, commonly called Xanthid Egg Crab. Not sure where the "floridus" comes from, since they're mainly found around Australia, Hawaii, Korea, etc. and are actually listed as "Vulnerable" and Red Listed, in Singapore. Another interesting fact, I just discovered, it's not suggested you eat these guys. Their flesh is toxic and the toxins are similar to the neurotoxins of puffer fishes, and just as deadly.

So, this guy will be relegated to my sump.

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returnofsid

returnofsid

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Yes, it is a pretty neat crab, though not all that lil'. It'll be nice to actually feel safe about my Zoanthids though!! It's currently enjoying it's life in a big refugium. We'll see how large it ends up getting!!
 
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Maybe they're toxic because of the palytoxin they ingest? Either way interesting find!

Well, in nature, they are mainly herbivorous. I did read one article about a particular type of red algae being the source of their toxins. However, toxins have been measured in them, where that particular red algae doesn't exist, so who knows.

I just know I won't be punishing this particular one by making a mini crab cake.
 
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