Crab ID - friend or foe?

choss · Mar 13, 2017

All,

I recently rescued a bunch of fish and inverts from a local neighbor. I walked in and they handed me a container with two healthy clown fish, a fire fish, a blood red cleaner shrimp, a bunch of hermits, snails, and one mystery crab. Here is a video of the little guy. I was hoping someone can ID him and let me know if he is reef safe or a threat to the fish. Right now he's in my QT with all the other rescued fish and inverts and, while I have no intention of putting him in my reef tank, I'm still curious as to his species. Also, if anyone living in Westchester NY wants to adopt him, please feel free to send me a PM.

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Reefing Madness · Mar 14, 2017

choss · Mar 14, 2017

Thanks for the bump! The little guys has been behaving so far. I forgot to mention that his back legs are two fan like appendages. He tends to stir up the sand in the QT tank and pick at whatever floats by. Still waiting for a few experts to weigh in!

ahiggins · Mar 14, 2017

the "usual" rule of thumb is pointed claws=baddie but @Lionfish Lair would be a MUCH better contributor than I can be LOL

GHsaltie · Mar 14, 2017

@Roboson is our resident crab expert if I remember correctly.

choss · Mar 14, 2017

ahiggins said:
the "usual" rule of thumb is pointed claws=baddie but @Lionfish Lair would be a MUCH better contributor than I can be LOL

yeah I agree on the pointy claws. On the bright side, while I have no history on the setup I rescued these guys from, it included hermits and a fire fish which is pretty docile. But I'm watching him closely! Still hoping an expert will weigh in.

Kmsutows · Mar 14, 2017

It looks like a blue claw crab I go fishing for on the coast but different color. He's definitely cool

Maritimer · Mar 14, 2017

That's a lady crab, AKA calico crab.

You can find them in Long Island Sound during the summer ... close relatives of the blue-claw crab, they're beautiful, but aggressive as all get-out, and as hardy as a box of nails. Those back legs are used to swim up off the bottom - usually at night.

~Bruce

choss · Mar 15, 2017

Bingo. Found some images that match. So right now he's behaving but I suspect that I will need to remove him asap. I suppose I can release him back into the sound. I live very close which probably explains how this family I rescued the fish and crabs from came about getting him.