Got crabs

[ThunderGoose]

So my live rock shipment came in with four different types of crabs. Any IDs? Thanks.

1

2

3

4

 

[Flippers4pups]

I'm not good with wild crabs, so......

#reefsquad

 

[Shep]

Emerald crab, they are good to have!

 

[Shep]

Possibly a porcelain crab

 

[Best Fish-Jake]

That first one is a spider decorator crab.. there are many different varieties

 

[Annahra]

So #4 looks just like a crab from my tank that we IDed as a red mithrax. I put him back initially but had to remove him because he started poking my mushrooms.

I had to also remove my #1 spider decorator because he decided to wear some of my tunicates as a hat. I miss him, though--really cool critter.

 

[Mr. Bill]

#2: Gorilla crab, #4: Red Mithrax crab. Both are cousins to the Emerald crab.

Personally, I wouldn't keep any of them in my main display. IMOPE with true crabs, the juveniles may scavenge leftovers and pick at algae, but as they mature they tend to need more meatier foods and will begin attacking sessile inverts, sleeping fish, and other vulnerable tankmates.

 

[KJ]

pic 1 decorator crab
pic 2 and 4 emerald crab
pic 3 porcelain crab

 

[Bolt-OnZ]

I have had issues with emarald crabs attacking starfish. Occasionally a mushroom which is a no-go for me.