Teddy Bear Crab...I think??

Stump48 · Aug 31, 2020

So I had a hitchhiker attached to a hammer coral which at the time I didn't know better and put him in my main 125 gallon tank. I finally caught him after about 4 weeks eating on some of my lps corals. The dilemma is I don't want to kill him but have nowhere to put him as I don't have a sump. I do have an additional 30 gallon sea horse tank. It only has 2 sea horses in it with no sub-straight or live rock just some fake plants. I have currently put him in this tank but don't want anything to happen to the sea horses as I have had them for about 4 months now and they are doing really well.

Questions-

1) What is this?
2) Will it eat the sea horses?

Thanks for the help.

Tired · Aug 31, 2020

Oh, neat! Put him in a breeder box, or a floating tupperware with holes for ventilation, and keep him alive. I bet you can find a taker. Post him up for free, if someone's willing to pick him up.

I would not put any kind of crab in a seahorse tank.

Stump48 · Aug 31, 2020

That is a great idea. He isn't fluffy in the photo as this picture was taken last night at 3 am after catching him and he is on my desk. He is kind of cool looking.

Stump48 · Aug 31, 2020

I am interested in identifying what it is.

Tired · Aug 31, 2020

I do agree, it's probably a teddy bear crab. If it's not exactly that species, it's probably something pretty similar in idea. Give him some meaty foods every day and/or a very algae-covered rock so he doesn't go hungry, add a place to hide, and he should do okay in a breeder box for a bit.

Stump48 · Sep 4, 2020

I was doing research on the Teddy Bear crab and an article about ( Pilumnus vespertilio) listed several of the hairy crabs as endangered in Singapore. I really want to save him if possible. Would a store possibly take him? I am not sure what to do at this point.

I have an on the back refugium I could dumb him in but there isn't meaty foods in there. Would he be OK eating only algae?

I’ma tempermental coral · Sep 4, 2020

There are lots of people here that like to keep the out of norm specimens! Put him in a breeder box and post him to the livestock section for free, taker just pays shipping. I bet someone takes him.

Stump48 · Sep 4, 2020

Since I am new I was wondering best way to post and figure out how to ship it. I guess i'll just jump in and see what happens. Thank you for the advice.

Stump48 · Sep 4, 2020

I think I am to new to post in that section as it states I have insufficient privileges.

I’ma tempermental coral · Sep 4, 2020

@ReefSquad can we help this person gift this fuzzy water baby please and thank you!

Stump48 · Sep 4, 2020

I have him in a Tupperware with holes in it so I am hoping he will be OK until tomorrow. I am going to call down to my local store and see if I can take it to them. #freeteddy

Tired · Sep 4, 2020

He should be fine in the tupperware for awhile, as long as you feed him.

Shipping him might be a bit iffy with the state of the postal service right now, but it's always worth posting in the sales area (when you unlock it) and seeing if anyone local would like him.

Stump48 · Sep 6, 2020

So I broke down and bought a HOB breeder tank. I figure it will be fun to keep him for a while. At least he is happy for now and my corals are safe. Thank you all for the advise. I added a picture of his new setup if anyone is interested. All I need to get is a few small rocks for him to hide in but for right now I added the extra clam shells I have collected in my my tank and a small hunk of algae off a sheet.