Crab Hitchhiker ID?

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

Its hard to ID from your photo and description I recommend as you still know and see where he is to remove and place in a cup for better ID cause if you loose him... its always on your mind as a possibility of a bad case of crabs


Oh yes and welcome to the board

[tlhood]

The piece of rock he is in appears to have a tunnel network through it, so I would have to take out the entire rock which is about 9 lbs and at the bottom. Ill keep an eye out and try to grab a better picture of it.

Thanks for the welcome

[WarDog]

Bait a trap right outside of his lair just before lights off and wait! Only way to truly ID.

[tlhood]

Last night I managed to sneak up on the tank during lights out and use a flashlight to find him. I'm thinking he might be a kind of Xanthidae, but his claws and body are wrong compared to the pictures I can find.

[hillegom]

This might help

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchcrabs.html

[noirsphynx]

That's a porcelain crab, great find! Harmless filter feeders.

[tlhood]

I thought this guy had died a month ago, but it appears I was wrong. I got home fairly late and my lights were off, and I happened to see this guy out d the corner of my eye. He has doubled in size and I got a view of his other pincer. He doesn't look like the porcelains I have seen. While his one pincer is large, the other is very thin and pointy. I haven't noticed any of my inverts or corals missing or taking damage, however I did lose a goby who was digging under the same rock this guy hides in. The goby was in rough shape when I bought him, may be coincidence. If I manage to get a picture ill post it. He doesn't like light and my camera won't focus on him very well.