Help ID this mystery crab?

[UM Aquarium Club]

We finally got out this hitchiker that had been killing and eating some of our fish, brittle stars, and snails. We initially identified a hairy "gorilla" crab in our tank a couple months ago and only in the last month were we able to see it again. Only this time its shell was smooth and was not hairy. Is anyone able to ID this crab species and have any idea if they were the same crab?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I know it's not a gorilla crab, the back of its carapace is smooth whereas a gorilla crab is textured.

This is a pretty good picture of a gorilla crab:

#reefsquad, any clue as to what the actual ID is?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Stone Crab? #reefsquad

 

[DSC reef]

@Lovemyreef2015

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

I think crabs is right. I think it is a stone crab. It looks very similar to this one.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Juvenile stone crabs do have white bands around their legs like this one does. Either way it is probably not reef safe.

 

[DSC reef]

I agree. Not reef safe, and a stone crab.

 

[Oldsalt01]

The claws certainly look like a stone crab. Good eyes folks. Delicious with garlic butter.

 

[UM Aquarium Club]

Thanks for the help everyone. My bet was a stone crab as well given that the live rock came from a store in Florida, definitely was a menace with more kills that it should have had in its time in our tank. If anyone else has a crab problem I highly recommend the method of bottle tilted on rock with some food inside.

 

[jsker]

Break the claws off when it get old enough, really good with a dijon mustard, horseradish and mayo dipping sauce.

 

[cracker]

One would have to feed the beast plenty of snails to eat the delicious claws ! LOL