ID Please

Varga · 02-20-2009, 09:10 AM

Strangest story....I decided to randomly point the camera at the rocks in the dark just to test the camera's night mode. fist pic, and this monster is in it!!

Hes very tiny, maybe 1/4", no way I can get him out.
How evil do you guys think he is?

Frankie · 02-20-2009, 09:13 AM

Nasty man! That crab looks like a killer to me. Not very good at IDing them but I know danger when I see it~

ReefLady · 02-20-2009, 09:21 AM

He definitley looks nasty, but at 1/4" I don't think it can do too much damage. Actually, I'm not sure, those back legs almost look like some sort of filter feeding mechanism.

Varga · 02-20-2009, 09:23 AM

looks really like an emerald but black!

I also hear this ticking sound from my tank. Usually when the halides go out....click click click....I'm guessing there are harmless crabs that can do that? since no small fish has gone missing yet! or the light fixture contracting after the hot lights go out?

Frankie · 02-20-2009, 09:27 AM

For what I have learned, any crab with black tips is a killer and coral destroyer. I would post that picture in the "Crabs Are Evil" thread and see what comes back~

Varga · 02-20-2009, 09:29 AM

man thats not good. would they eat sps?

seafansar · 02-20-2009, 09:36 AM

I don't think you have to worry about crabs with black tipped claws eating corals, but they will eat fish, snails, smaller crabs, starfish, etc. Pretty much whatever they can get their claws on. My dad had a gorilla crab in his tank that cleaned out two clams over night and a few days later was caught red handed eating a starfish.
Not all black tipped crabs are carnivorous though. Strawberry crabs have black tips, but they just eat algae. I agree that your crab looks related to an emerald crab.
Crab Hitch Hikers

Varga · 02-20-2009, 09:53 AM

Thanks Sara. I think I have a Mithrax crab. 2nd pic. looks just like it. so if it gets big enough it may eat fish....which is great

. as long as it doesn't eat corals.

02-20-2009, 09:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
Varga Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,355 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	ID Please Strangest story....I decided to randomly point the camera at the rocks in the dark just to test the camera's night mode. fist pic, and this monster is in it!! Hes very tiny, maybe 1/4", no way I can get him out. How evil do you guys think he is? __________________ Varga's Cube http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...on-cube-5.html

02-20-2009, 09:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: ID Please He definitley looks nasty, but at 1/4" I don't think it can do too much damage. Actually, I'm not sure, those back legs almost look like some sort of filter feeding mechanism. __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

02-20-2009, 09:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Varga Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,355 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: ID Please looks really like an emerald but black! I also hear this ticking sound from my tank. Usually when the halides go out....click click click....I'm guessing there are harmless crabs that can do that? since no small fish has gone missing yet! or the light fixture contracting after the hot lights go out? __________________ Varga's Cube http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...on-cube-5.html

02-20-2009, 09:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
Varga Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,355 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: ID Please man thats not good. would they eat sps? __________________ Varga's Cube http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...on-cube-5.html

02-20-2009, 09:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
seafansar Elegance coral Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Deltona, FL Posts: 1,191 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: ID Please I don't think you have to worry about crabs with black tipped claws eating corals, but they will eat fish, snails, smaller crabs, starfish, etc. Pretty much whatever they can get their claws on. My dad had a gorilla crab in his tank that cleaned out two clams over night and a few days later was caught red handed eating a starfish. Not all black tipped crabs are carnivorous though. Strawberry crabs have black tips, but they just eat algae. I agree that your crab looks related to an emerald crab. Crab Hitch Hikers __________________ -Sara SW since Jan. '08 150 gallon SPS reef 20 gallon BTA/clown tank 90 gallon bowfront mixed reef 45 gallon cube 150 tank thread 45 cube thread My Reefnook

02-20-2009, 09:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
Varga Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,355 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: ID Please Thanks Sara. I think I have a Mithrax crab. 2nd pic. looks just like it. so if it gets big enough it may eat fish....which is great . as long as it doesn't eat corals. __________________ Varga's Cube http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...on-cube-5.html

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