Crab Id please

ratman150 · Jun 25, 2017

I only noticed I had these after moving to the larger tank. I found a dead one in my other tank and two living ones.

This coral keeps bringing surprises...I've learned I need to dip them better

I'm actually interested in keeping these alive if they won't grow crazy big.

Thanks in advance!

Labridaedicted · Jun 25, 2017

That brown one looks like a gorilla crab or something similar. Usually when I see hairy legs like that on a crab I pull them. He shouldn't stay in the tank. They're bad news.

Let me do some research on the green one. He looks more likely to be ok.

KJ · Jun 25, 2017

I would put both crabs in the sump.

KJ · Jun 25, 2017

Can you get better pictures of the red one?

ratman150 · Jun 25, 2017

KJ said:
Can you get better pictures of the red one?

Been trying he's hiding again.

Mr. Bill · Jun 25, 2017

KJ said:
I would put both crabs in the sump.

Agreed. I don't trust any true crab in a reef tank. IMOPE, even "reef-safe scavengers" (i.e. emerald and sally-lightfoot crabs, purple reef lobster) became opportunistic predators once they matured.

Labridaedicted · Jun 25, 2017

Mr. Bill said:
Agreed. I don't trust any true crab in a reef tank. IMOPE, even "reef-safe scavengers" (i.e. emerald and sally-lightfoot crabs, purple reef lobster) became opportunistic predators once they matured.

I third this. Unless it's a porcelain crab, trapezia (or other commensal species) , hermit (which sometimes pick at things anyways), they have a chance of picking at whatever they think is edible.

ratman150 · Jun 25, 2017

Labridaedicted said:
I third this. Unless it's a porcelain crab, trapezia (or other commensal species) , hermit (which sometimes pick at things anyways), they have a chance of picking at whatever they think is edible.

Would that explain why this coral has been so shy? I've had it about a month and it still only opens small sections but never entirely. I thought it was still acclimating because it was fully open at the lfs.