Help me ID this Crab

[Lem]

So I ordered some macro algae and this guy came with it. He has been in my sump ever since and was tiny when I got the order, months ago. Tiny as .25 of an inch at best. His shell is now a good inch and a good 2+ inches when measured from leg tip to leg tip. His pincers look menacing as well. He used to feed on the algae or so I guess but now he likes little chunks of scallop. Likes to hide under rocks or will bury most of its body in the substrate only leaving the top of his shell exposed. Looks like a buried piece of rock then. Very sneaky. Has always had that gray coloration. Please let me know what you think.

 

[coraal]

Looks like an Emerald Crab to me.

 

[Lem]

Looks like an Emerald Crab to me.

It isnt like any other emerald crab I have ever had. Doesn't have the same texture in the shell or the coloring.

 

[Squishie89]

Does he look like this guy? Squishie's 90g Saltwater Tank
And was the macro algae from reefs2go.com ?

 

[Lem]

Does he look like this guy? Squishie's 90g Saltwater Tank
And was the macro algae from reefs2go.com ?

That's him! Or her! That's it! And yes, it came from reefs2go.com

Say hello to yours from its cousin in my sump.

What kind of crab is it?

 

[TrishW]

Does he look like this guy? Squishie's 90g Saltwater Tank
And was the macro algae from reefs2go.com ?

Wow I am sure glad I never ordered from that place. Imagine the damage he could do if you didn't find him and he ended up growing that large in your display

 

[Squishie89]

That's him! Or her! That's it! And yes, it came from reefs2go.com

Say hello to yours from its cousin in my sump.

What kind of crab is it?

I have never gotten an 100% ID, but some kind of mithrax or xanthidae (Crab Hitch Hikers). My guy started off tiny, I was lucky I managed to find him in the macro algae.
This is when I got him (and it is actually a her, but I call her a boy)


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And this is him a few weeks ago


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I have had him since May.

Wow I am sure glad I never ordered from that place. Imagine the damage he could do if you didn't find him and he ended up growing that large in your display

Yeah, I know he is not a good crab to have in the display and I was glad I had a refugium to put him in, which he has THRIVED in.

 

[Lem]

I have never gotten an 100% ID, but some kind of mithrax or xanthidae (Crab Hitch Hikers). My guy started off tiny, I was lucky I managed to find him in the macro algae.
This is when I got him (and it is actually a her, but I call her a boy)


Uploaded with ImageShack.us
And this is him a few weeks ago


Uploaded with ImageShack.us
I have had him since May.


Yeah, I know he is not a good crab to have in the display and I was glad I had a refugium to put him in, which he has THRIVED in.

We must have made our orders the same week because I got its sibling just about that time and the same exact size. Mine is just as big now. I only took him/her out of the water once and it tried to scurry away on the carpet and towards the couch. He/she has been feasting on bits of scallop and pellets I give it from time to time. I do think he/she ate some of my snails though. Lots of empty shells. Usually the smaller nassarius snails. The bigger snails are all fine. He lives in the sump with an amputee brittle star that I'm trying to nurse back to health, and a pistol shrimp that was suicidal and liked to get into the overflow box.

Btw, Squishie89, I have been reading your blog for the past couple of hours.

 

[Squishie89]

We must have made our orders the same week because I got its sibling just about that time and the same exact size. Mine is just as big now. I only took him/her out of the water once and it tried to scurry away on the carpet and towards the couch. He/she has been feasting on bits of scallop and pellets I give it from time to time. I do think he/she ate some of my snails though. Lots of empty shells. Usually the smaller nassarius snails. The bigger snails are all fine. He lives in the sump with an amputee brittle star that I'm trying to nurse back to health, and a pistol shrimp that was suicidal and liked to get into the overflow box.

Btw, Squishie89, I have been reading your blog for the past couple of hours.

That is too funny. Yeah not much lives with him, I think brittles used to live in there, but not anymore =X I don't feed my guy at all, I think he eats macro algae, detritus and extra food as it goes through the sump. I grab snails as they get into the sump because they like to mess with my pumps >=( I am just afraid one day he will out grow the fuge!
Thanks for reading! Ha, I write way too much in there, and post too many photos. I am glad you are enjoying it.

 

[NanaReefer]

Hopefully that crab is all you got! Unlike myself who got....Aptasia, Digitate Hydroids and Ball anemones.
Glad you caught him!


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