id THIS hitchhiker, please

JoJosReef · Feb 2, 2022

Dear Reefers,

Can someone please tell me what has hitched a ride on my back? Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,
Snail just trying to mind his own *#@& business

Shared album from Joseph 📸

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

Shared album from Joseph 📸

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

Peter C · Feb 2, 2022

Some type of porcelain crab. Assuming he's not causing too much damage you could observe him for a bit and see what he does. General rule of thumb with crabs is two claws is bad one claw is good.

Eagle_Steve · Feb 2, 2022

JoJosReef said:
Dear Reefers,

Can someone please tell me what has hitched a ride on my back? Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,
Snail just trying to mind his own *#@& business

Shared album from Joseph 📸

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

Shared album from Joseph 📸

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

Porcelain crab. Harmless filter feeder who may take up residence in an anemone. They will also take tiny bits of food, munch on some algae and are pretty cool little critters.

Mr_Knightley · Feb 2, 2022

Porcelain crab, completely harmless. They are filter feeders and don't use their claws for anything but defense from predators. It'll do no harm to your corals or inverts and may actually perch on or beneath corals while feeding!

BostonReefer300 · Feb 2, 2022

My porcelain crabs have two claws. I accidentally broke off one claw on one and it grew back after a while. That being said, my crabs are almost always hiding. I never see them out in the open like in the pics above

JoJosReef · Feb 2, 2022

Dear Reefers,

Stepping in for my confused snail. I bought this porcelain crab from Reefcleaners (thanks John!), and it immediately got comfy in the 10g Office Nuvo. As you can see from the videos, he decided to hitch a ride on an Astraea all the way around the tank, waving his feeder fans around. Hilarious for a first day. No need to ID the crab--I've told the snail who/what the hitchhiker is and he's accepted his new position as tank taxi. Thanks!

Best,
Owner of the taxi snail and spotted porcelain anemone crab
;-P

Clawfish · Feb 2, 2022

looks like porcelain crab, good filter feeder, fun to watch!

Gargoyle · Feb 2, 2022

JoJosReef said:
Dear Reefers,

Stepping in for my confused snail. I bought this porcelain crab from Reefcleaners (thanks John!), and it immediately got comfy in the 10g Office Nuvo. As you can see from the videos, he decided to hitch a ride on an Astraea all the way around the tank, waving his feeder fans around. Hilarious for a first day. No need to ID the crab--I've told the snail who/what the hitchhiker is and he's accepted his new position as tank taxi. Thanks!

Best,
Owner of the taxi snail and spotted porcelain anemone crab
;-P

Hi.
My hermit crabs are asking if you could send taxi snail over as they can no longer hitch a lift since eating all of their snail tank mates. They think taxi snail looks tasty.