Mithrax Crab?

[Kmst80]

I am guessing it's a Mithrax Crab, came with the live rock, body about the size of a thumb nail. Anyone recognize this crab?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yes appears to be. Common is green but they’re also red and blue
Good algae eaters but hard to trust around coral

 

[sfin52]

Yes appears to be. Common is green but they’re also red and blue
Good algae eaters but hard to trust around coral

I think if there's enough to scavenge and algea they will be fine. If not than they will go after coral thats my experience.

 

[Kmst80]

So far she is sticking to clean up. Loves to sift through the sandbed. Looks impressive, stunning coloration and size . I will keep an eye on her.

 

[Kmst80]

It's amazing how quick this crab is growing, when I saw it first in November she would have been 1 inch across including legs, she molted this week and is now easy 3 inches across. Saw her eating caulerpa the other day, can't spot much bubble algae in the tank anymore either.
Anyone got some similar sized specimens?

 

[Cell]

Doesn't look like a mithrax to me, but I may be wrong.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks to be red Mithrax. pics of Crab more out in the open will be helpful

Red Mithrax

This one is red hinged

 

[Cell]

Darker claws and joints though?

 

[moz71]

I have a large red one. Went to sump when ate a large chunk out of my clam mantle. Was model citizen before that. Good luck!

 

[TriggerFinger]

I vote that might be a sally lightfoot crab

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

I have gone through three. Had to suicide each them once they took up residence and ate my prized torches.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not even close to sally lightfoot

Sally :

 

[Kmst80]

Pretty sure too it's a Mithrax Crab, just unbelievable how fast she's growing. So far she's very much a model citizen, I must have plenty of food on offer for her

 

[Kmst80]

Update:

3 days ago i caught the model citizen inhaling one of my trochus snails. Apart from that i still don't know if the crab had anything to do with the loss of one hermit crab and the disappearance of my firetail goby. However both of my tuxedo urchins gone missing too. So bottle trap went in last night, works out that crab ain't that smart after all. Relocated back to the ocean. Good Luck

Should have listened to all those saying "not in my tank". Hope i haven't lost my urchins.

 

[TnFishwater98]

Update:

3 days ago i caught the model citizen inhaling one of my trochus snails. Apart from that i still don't know if the crab had anything to do with the loss of one hermit crab and the disappearance of my firetail goby. However both of my tuxedo urchins gone missing too. So bottle trap went in last night, works out that crab ain't that smart after all. Relocated back to the ocean. Good Luck

Should have listened to all those saying "not in my tank". Hope i haven't lost my urchins.

There are many different species of Mithrax Crabs. From the Red Mithrax Crab I’ve seen, this last picture definitely looks a lot different. The claws look like Freddy Kruger sharpened them and are ready to slice, dice, and chop anything that came near it in your tank. That’s a nightmarish looking DT crab IMO…

 

[Kmst80]

There are many different species of Mithrax Crabs. From the Red Mithrax Crab I’ve seen, this last picture definitely looks a lot different. The claws look like Freddy Kruger sharpened them and are ready to slice, dice, and chop anything that came near it in your tank. That’s a nightmarish looking DT crab IMO…

Haha... Freddy Kruger claws. Funny thing is they only got this dangerous looking after the last molt...same as the spikes.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I just went through the hitchhiker crab battle get him out of there if you didn't put it in there Easier to do it now than when everything starts growing