Can you help to identify?
 

Ok so i bought some live rock awhile back and set up my tank, and so on, i found this little crab like the size of a pencil eraser and it was beige with bright orange stripes.

I put him in the tank during cycling and never see him again, fearing after that it could have died, i fed my new fish today and what do you know, he comes out except he's the size of a quarter round, boy's been eating.

So i would post a pick but he runs away when i get close to the tank.
Is it harmful to leave him in there of should i try to remove him?

Josh

I would get him out of there. Especially if he is growing fast.

track it down and yank it out would be your best option.

hes really quick, any way to lure them out into the open?

tip a tall glass at a 45 degree angle with some food at the bottom. He'll crawl in to get the food, but it is too slippery for him to get out. I would do this at lights out, when he is more comfortable and when the fish are sleeping and wont steal the bait.

Totally agree. I lost about 7-8 fish over an eight month period untill I finally discovered 2 rogue crabs about the size of yours.

Well i caught him last night and I was talking with ken at blue world yesterday and he said if they don't have red eyes they should be ok, so i found him late last night and scooped him outta the tank took a look at him and no red eyes to be found so i let him go.

When i caught him though, the markings are orange stripes on the leds and brown dots on the back, if this guy is truly a danger then i will catch him again and throw him in my sump.

Give me somemore feed back, all is greatly appericiated.

Thanks
Josh

general bad crabby signs include but are not limited to (nor are particularly consistent): red eyes, sharp claws, black tipped claws. got pictures?