Crab Identification

[SirFragalot]

I could use some help identifying this crab. I purchased a new rock yesterday that came with plenty of hitchikers and this is one of the crabs that came out after the lights went out. Its about a half an inch at most. I found a pic of it on another site asking the same question with no answer. Perhaps one of you know.

 

[Phyl]

Black pointy tips are typically indicitive of a predator. I wouldn't want him in my reef, even though he's tiny and quite cute now.

 

[SirFragalot]

Thanks.
I'll take a closer look tonight. I dont recall seeing the black tips on him even though he was in plain sight and i had a flashlight right on him but he was against the rock. I was too busy looking in all the cracks and holes for stuff. Everything else looks the same though. No certain identification though?

 

[jimroth]

Looks like Sumpus Chumpus to me.

I think you have to be a biology professor to get a species ID. Suffice it to say:
Crabs are omnivorous and With a few exceptions, need to be removed unless you are so totally into crabs that you tolerate them. If you pulled this guy off your rock the first day, you probably have some more to remove in the future.

What kind of live rock did you get?

 

[Phyl]

You're not going to get a species ID on a hitchhiker crab. There are WAY too many possibilities and not nearly enough time! Generally speaking there is a limited list of the types of crabs that you WANT in your tank. Some of those would be acro crabs (common hitchhiker in acros), emerald crabs, porcelains (another common hitchhiker), and hermits. Even this is frequently debated amongst hobbyists. Many people say that any crab can become a predator in the right (wrong?) environment. In any case, the generally desireable crabs are easily identified. This isn't one of them.

 

[jonathan.]

You're not going to get a species ID on a hitchhiker crab. There are WAY too many possibilities and not nearly enough time! Generally speaking there is a limited list of the types of crabs that you WANT in your tank. Some of those would be acro crabs (common hitchhiker in acros), emerald crabs, porcelains (another common hitchhiker), and hermits. Even this is frequently debated amongst hobbyists. Many people say that any crab can become a predator in the right (wrong?) environment. In any case, the generally desireable crabs are easily identified. This isn't one of them.

JMO, but no one should have emerald crabs, either. 90% of the time the crab turns into a predator after a year or two when it gets big enough to grab small fish. Those crabs are bad news. Same with the Sally Lightfoot crabs that people seem to use.

 

[Hawkeye]

ah...a topic not about lights or skimmers! lol.

The closest you can get to an identification of a hitcher crab is family...don't even try genus or species. That family would be the Xanthidae Family.

Some crabs in the xanthid family are actually friendlies - like the pompom crab. But the majority of crabs from the family xanthidae are identified as being either "hairy" or with "pointy black tips". The exception to this is the aforementioned acro crab - which does have black pointy tips - but it is harmless.

JMO, but no one should have emerald crabs, either. 90% of the time the crab turns into a predator after a year or two when it gets big enough to grab small fish. Those crabs are bad news. Same with the Sally Lightfoot crabs that people seem to use.

the mouth of a crab is designed to be omnivore as Jim mentioned. So I agree with jonathan - just because one may buy an emerald crab to "eat algae" doesn't mean that it doesn't appreciate a nice fish dinner. If we're adding crabs we personally don't like - I don't like the "cleaner horseshoe crab"...oh yes, they will clean up your tridacna clams all right...

Many people say that any crab can become a predator in the right (wrong?) environment.

I am definite "follower? believer?" in this. With special exclusion to porcelains, pompoms and acro crabs.

I must say though there is ONE crab I love....Callinectes sapidus. The best way to keep them is bright and red with a dash of old bay.

 

[SirFragalot]

You're not going to get a species ID on a hitchhiker crab. There are WAY too many possibilities and not nearly enough time! Generally speaking there is a limited list of the types of crabs that you WANT in your tank. Some of those would be acro crabs (common hitchhiker in acros), emerald crabs, porcelains (another common hitchhiker), and hermits. Even this is frequently debated amongst hobbyists. Many people say that any crab can become a predator in the right (wrong?) environment. In any case, the generally desireable crabs are easily identified. This isn't one of them.

JMO, but no one should have emerald crabs, either. 90% of the time the crab turns into a predator after a year or two when it gets big enough to grab small fish. Those crabs are bad news. Same with the Sally Lightfoot crabs that people seem to use.

Of course, you had to say that. This rock came with (so far) 3 emeralds, 1 sally lightfoot and various snails. I also saw some what looked like really tiny fish swimming in and out of the holes. I'm talking a centimeter in length and almost clear. They dont like light at all. Every time I shined a flashlight on them, they darted back into a hole. Only bold crab is the Sally (quick little sucker)that stays in plain view.

 

[Hawkeye]

nice rock given all the living things - where did you get it?

 

[SirFragalot]

nice rock given all the living things - where did you get it?

Pets Plus in Delran. Drew, who I was told to see from a member here, hooked me up with a huge rock from one of the stock tanks with lots of color and what seems to be plenty of hitchikers. The only visible hitchiker was the Sally Lightfoot which he bagged seperatly and was free.

 

[SirFragalot]

Apologies for the double post but you can add a few Peanut Worms to the list of hitchhikers on the same rock.

 

[harryk]

i would remove the crab, better safe then sorry. And besides it's easier to remove them before they go in your tank. IMO if i didn't know what something was it wouldn't go in my tank.

Harry

 

[jonathan.]

nice rock given all the living things - where did you get it?

Pets Plus in Delran. Drew, who I was told to see from a member here, hooked me up with a huge rock from one of the stock tanks with lots of color and what seems to be plenty of hitchikers. The only visible hitchiker was the Sally Lightfoot which he bagged seperatly and was free.

Sally Lightfoots become murderous buggers. Might want to re-think if you want that crab or not in your tank :/






Edited for Language --p

 

[SirFragalot]

No worries about the sally lightfoot anymore. I was rearranging my rock and lost sight of him. I crushed him between two rocks by accident. I didnt realize it till I saw two of his legs sticking out. He was removed. Wonder if the Niger Trigger (yes, i decided to go aggressive) would have gotten to him eventually?

 

[SirFragalot]

Last year I had posted this thread in hopes of getting an ID on a crab. All this time has passed and I had not seen it until a couple of nights ago. I was able to snap a pic. Its hard to see but its almost in the center of the pic. Pretty hairy and from what I could tell.....no black tips on the claws.

 

[Boomer]

Not that crab again. That crab in question, has been up for ID on other forums few times and I have yet been able to ID it, despite walls full of ID books And I hate ID crabs anyway. Do you know where this "rock" came from ?

 

[SirFragalot]

Not that crab again. That crab in question, has been up for ID on other forums few times and I have yet been able to ID it, despite walls full of ID books And I hate ID crabs anyway. Do you know where this "rock" came from ?

Nope. It seemed out of place at the Pets Plus in Delran at the time. It stuck out like a sore thumb. I think thats what made me buy it. There wasnt an inch that wasnt covored in coraline with plenty of nooks and crevices. I appreciate the effort in trying to ID. I will just have to keep a close eye on them.