Crab ID

[islandguy85]

Hey guys,

I have asked before, but was using pictures through the glass/into the tank. I managed to snag this guy last night (I have a ton of rock hiding spots) and am curious to know what he is and where his native range may be? I removed his large claw, left the smaller claw and returned him to display tank. Going to try to keep him in there as long as I can but I am pretty sure he ate one of my hermits and maybe a snail or two at this point so I am watching closely.

 

[sfin52]

Doesn’t look reef safe

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Bad crab, should not have put him back. Will regrow the claw and eat anything he can get those claws on.

 

[islandguy85]

I know the claw will regrow. I see him regularly enough (1-2x week) that I can keep one claw in check. I have nothing against wackin him but figured I would try to see if he could coexist in the tank. It is a 150gal display and is 3' deep. He lives at the bottom and I am going to see if keeping him w one small claw works I guess.

 

[cracker]

good experiment ! curious as to how long it takes for the big claw to regrow to the regular size. I'd watch it close though. if your missing snails & hermits that guy is suspect number One

 

[islandguy85]

Cracker,

In the wild I believe it takes ~1yr. It will start over next time it molts and then slowly grow back. Not sure if this will happen more quickly or slowly in my tank though. One thing I need to do is get my lights on a timer and that would probably help influence seasonal changes.

Same principle in managing stone crabs here in SE US. You can only legally remove one (the larger of the two) claw per crab and then it is released to regrow.

 

[islandguy85]

Hey Cracker,

Saw the crab for the first time in a while. The claw I pulled is back, but smaller. If I get the chance I am going to put him in sump or remove. Not sure if he has done any harm, but I seem to be missing a hermit and maybe a few snails. Hard to say about the snails though with all the rock I have.

 

[Carterfish]

This may just be a type of mithrax crab. Like an emerald. You should be fine tbh. Most crabs will not take the effort to actually hunt and catch a fish or eat coral. Just make sure food gets to the bottom of the yank.

 

[DSC reef]

@KJ, @Lovemyreef2015 #reefsquad. This doesn't look like a mithrax to me, any positive ID? A non reef safe crab can wreak havoc and definitely destroy coral and eat fish.

 

[KJ]

Xanthidae sp. Remove them.

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

I agree, remove it.

 

[Michael Llabona]

Put him in the sump if you have a fuge section. It will keep him well fed and it will be a good addition to cuc down in sump. I throw all of my "bad" hermits in my sump. If they kill snails or are constantly bothering corals down they go.

 

[cracker]

A crab that's hungry will eat anything it can get a hold of. If it goes in the sump it will eat any other snails or pods etc. I don't like them !

 

[DangerDave]

Xanthidae sp. Remove them.

+1