I don't think this is an emeral crab

[ScottF]

This was supposed to be an emerald crab from saltwaterfish.com. I'm colorblind, but my son says it looks dark blue when it is on the underside of the rock with my phones flashlight on it. Though the blues were on at the time.

Does this look like an emerald? I thought they were supposed to be smoother. I've seen it picking at a leather coral and I think maybe it is picking at a hammer as well. Sorry for the overly blue saturation from my lights in the picture.

 

[TX_REEF]

it's hard to tell with the saturation, but it does look "furrier" than a usual emerald to me.

I would also note though, that I have caught emerald crabs eating health LPS corals. They live in my refugium now, I don't trust emerald crabs.

 

[ScottF]

Is there a good way to catch them? Hang an expensive torch in there for it to latch onto and yank it out? lol

 

[TX_REEF]

Is there a good way to catch them? Hang an expensive torch in there for it to latch onto and yank it out? lol

There are some ways to trap them, a bottle trap for example, do a bit of online research. The best way for crabs I have found though is to quickly net them, grab them with tongs, or remove the rock they're attached to and remove them from the rock.

 

[ScottF]

Got him with the net. He now resides in my refugium. I still think it doesn't look smooth enough to be an emerald, but I'm nowhere close to an expert.

 

[ScottF]

And it only cost me half a head of my Supernova Hammer and a ticked off Neon Green Tip Toadstool Leather. Hopefully the whole head doesn't die.

I think it was messing with my Nexus Joker BTA as well. It looked like it was trying to grab a tentacle when I was taking the picture.

 

[TX_REEF]

yep, crabs can be jerks. I don't trust large hermit crabs either, I caught one snacking on a healthy micromussa. Refugium resident material.

 

[ScottF]

I just looked in the fuge and the little ****** is riding the ball of chaeto as it spins. Like a little gorilla crab amusement park.