Sand Sifting Crab ID

[DarthMort]

I have recently bought this crab from my LPS and they labeled it as a Sand Sifting Crab, which it is but I was wondering if someone could ID it so I can do more research on its compatibility within my tank. They told me they believed it was reef safe with caution, but they also didn't have much information on the little guy either.

He's Non agressive, I can pick him up without a problem, or being afraid of being nipped, he doesnt even bring his claws out.

What i'm concerned with, is..... will he eventually eat coral, which will be bad for him as i have zoas and other stuff that could potentially harm the little guy.

He eats from the sand bed and from what i can see, is omnivorous due to me having a big live sand bioload and he cleans up what the fish dont eat.

I saw a post from 2010 that was on the exact same crab but there was no confirmed identity and it has been archived.

Please help me find this guys ID, he deserves to be treated well in my system.

 

[tzabor10]

Roll the dice and keep him. What a beautiful creature

 

[DarthMort]

I have discovered after doing a LOT of googling. He’s possibly a Moon crab… but there’s also limited information on those too

He is quite stunning when he’s not hiding tbh

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I have recently bought this crab from my LPS and they labeled it as a Sand Sifting Crab, which it is but I was wondering if someone could ID it so I can do more research on its compatibility within my tank. They told me they believed it was reef safe with caution, but they also didn't have much information on the little guy either.

He's Non agressive, I can pick him up without a problem, or being afraid of being nipped, he doesnt even bring his claws out.

What i'm concerned with, is..... will he eventually eat coral, which will be bad for him as i have zoas and other stuff that could potentially harm the little guy.

He eats from the sand bed and from what i can see, is omnivorous due to me having a big live sand bioload and he cleans up what the fish dont eat.

I saw a post from 2010 that was on the exact same crab but there was no confirmed identity and it has been archived.

Please help me find this guys ID, he deserves to be treated well in my system.

Yeah, looks like a Common Moon Crab, Matuta victor, to me - reportedly burrows and eats small inverts (worms, hermits, snails, etc.), so not great for a CUC, but a neat little crab.

 

[DarthMort]

Yeah, looks like a Common Moon Crab, Matuta victor, to me - reportedly burrows and eats small inverts (worms, hermits, snails, etc.), so not great for a CUC, but a neat little crab.

Well I have another tank he can go into that only has 2 mandarins and no coral and I can just feed the guy directly thankyou for the confirmation. It was driving me batty.

Also, what’s a CUC?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Well I have another tank he can go into that only has 2 mandarins and no coral and I can just feed the guy directly thankyou for the confirmation. It was driving me batty.

Also, what’s a CUC?

Clean Up Crew - snails and such that help clean up algae and uneaten foods.

 

[DarthMort]

Clean Up Crew - snails and such that help clean up algae and uneaten foods.

Well I don’t have any of those in the other tank thankyou for clearing up my very dumb question as I feel incredibly silly now

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Well I don’t have any of those in the other tank thankyou for clearing up my very dumb question as I feel incredibly silly now

Haha, no problem - it takes a while to grasp the lingo of the site (there's actually a thread about the acronyms and abbreviations used):

Acronyms and Abbreviations for the Reef Aquarist

Reef aquarium acronyms for beginners.

www.reef2reef.com