Crab ID
 

I saw this guy a while back, but could not get him!

IS he reef safe? or should I rig up a trap?

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c9.../DSCN01591.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c9.../DSCN01581.jpg

thanks for the help,

I have a whack load of those in my new tank - they were on the live rock that I got. I don't think they are reefsafe (pointy claws) and I have seen them picking at my coral. I have trapped about 8 of them so far and bet there is another 10 at least in there. I haven't tried trapping in a couple of weeks so this is a good reminder for me to get back at it.

What technique did you use for trapping them? the plastic bottle one, or something more sinister......

I actually used the narrow glass leaning up against the rock trick. I had one evil large black crab like that in my 230 that I battled with for about 6 months and finally caught him in a coral that wasn't attached and lifted coral crab and all out of the tank. That was after trying everything - glass, plastic bottle, shish ka bob spear (don't try that one I almost went swimming and managed to fall of the stool I was standing on).

i had the same type in my tank a while ago i seen him kill a snail and a herimit.
i took the whole rock he was in out.

Death to the crab!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:twised:

It looks like a xanthid crab. Not good.

No... No smashy/flushy the Crab!!! At least not by human hands.

There are plenty of reefers who keep mantis these days - it's a shame to let good video fodder go to waste.

Andy

I have approx. 3 of these guys that hitchiked on rock from OA...they were in my 72G for 5 mos. and now in my 150 for 1 month...never seen them go after anything but algae and purple coralline. I havent noticed anything else disapearing. I did notice that they have the same claw tips as my Emerald...for scraping.

that is so strange that they come in unnoticed. I just found 1 in my tank tonight. He didn't look like that one he was more grey. He was just hanging out on the edge of star polyps, then i blinked and it was gone.