Red Crab ID

amc78cj7 · 01-23-2008, 01:25 PM

I've posted a short story in the Hitchhiker section, but this will be a more appropriate place to focus in on the 2 crabs I have as hitchhikers from my liverock. The first I believe to be a "gorilla crab" and am trying to remove. However, I was just looking at the following website Jeff & Richard Prince - Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society OMAS coral reef salt water fish aquarists hobby marine* where he has it listed as an "emerald crab". Is he correct? Should I give him the boot?

The other guy is a hairless crab about the size of a quarter. After Day 1 of the tank setup he disappeared and I thought he might be dead. He returned this morning but was hanging out behind a piece of Pukani. I was able to get some pictures but nothing of his back. I was however able to get a better description. He is red (orange really) with a black/blue belly and some faint white spots on his belly. He does not appear to have big pincers. He is hairless and his eyes stick out of this body like short antenna. I've tried google searching but haven't found him yet. One fella on here thought it might be an acro crab, but every image I pull up of them on google are white with a black stripe. I'll post pics tonight when I get home. Hopefully he'll be willing to pose a little better tonight.

Doot77 · 01-23-2008, 02:02 PM

That pic is diffenitely a Emerald Crab.

amc78cj7 · 01-23-2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doot77

That pic is diffenitely a Emerald Crab.

Do emerald crabs have hair? Mine has the rough shell like that but has a buzz cut hair do.

Doot77 · 01-23-2008, 03:01 PM

the legs are hairy but not sure about the buzz cut.

framerguy · 01-23-2008, 03:08 PM

Is it possible to look at the inside elbow joint of the claw appendage. The joint should be red if it's an emerald crab. Their body shell is usually knobby but hairless (though they could have algae growing on the shell which looks like hair), their legs are hairy. Their bodies come in various shades of green. I have one that's almost black, but all Mithrax' have the red elbows. They are reefsafe as juveniles but become more carnivorous as they age. If it turns out he's a gorilla definaltely get him out.

amc78cj7 · 01-23-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by framerguy

Is it possible to look at the inside elbow joint of the claw appendage. The joint should be red if it's an emerald crab. Their body shell is usually knobby but hairless (though they could have algae growing on the shell which looks like hair), their legs are hairy. Their bodies come in various shades of green. I have one that's almost black, but all Mithrax' have the red elbows. They are reefsafe as juveniles but become more carnivorous as they age. If it turns out he's a gorilla definaltely get him out.

I'll do my best to get a picture of that crab tonight as well. I'll try to post by 9pm EST. Tune back in then.

amc78cj7 · 01-24-2008, 03:26 AM

Please see this thread for better descriptions and PICS. I really would like to know what the red guy is.

All my hitch hikers - PICS included for identification

Jeff

amc78cj7 · 01-25-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amc78cj7

Please see this thread for better descriptions and PICS. I really would like to know what the red guy is.

UPDATE: He is a fiddler crab. Just rearranged all my liverock so he can get to the surface. Fortunately the tank is only 1 week old so I haven't added any corals yet (in terms of moving the rock).

From what I read the fiddler poses no harm to corals.

All my hitch hikers - PICS included for identification

Jeff

01-23-2008, 01:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
amc78cj7 Limpet Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: St. Louis Posts: 148 View Gallery Karma Komment	Red Crab ID I've posted a short story in the Hitchhiker section, but this will be a more appropriate place to focus in on the 2 crabs I have as hitchhikers from my liverock. The first I believe to be a "gorilla crab" and am trying to remove. However, I was just looking at the following website Jeff & Richard Prince - Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society OMAS coral reef salt water fish aquarists hobby marine* where he has it listed as an "emerald crab". Is he correct? Should I give him the boot? The other guy is a hairless crab about the size of a quarter. After Day 1 of the tank setup he disappeared and I thought he might be dead. He returned this morning but was hanging out behind a piece of Pukani. I was able to get some pictures but nothing of his back. I was however able to get a better description. He is red (orange really) with a black/blue belly and some faint white spots on his belly. He does not appear to have big pincers. He is hairless and his eyes stick out of this body like short antenna. I've tried google searching but haven't found him yet. One fella on here thought it might be an acro crab, but every image I pull up of them on google are white with a black stripe. I'll post pics tonight when I get home. Hopefully he'll be willing to pose a little better tonight.

01-23-2008, 02:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Doot77 Scopas Tang Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: DeKalb, IL Posts: 467 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Red Crab ID That pic is diffenitely a Emerald Crab. __________________ Matt ________________________________ 110 Gallon Oceanic with dual corner overflows and 40 gal Oceanic 150 Sump Livestock : - 1 Mystery Wrasse, 1 Fairy Wrasse, 1 Royal Gramma, 1 Diamond Watchman Goby, 2 Turbo Snails, 6 Nassarius Snails, 1 Fighting Conch, 6 Dwarf Blue Legged Crabs & 6 Dwarf Zebra Crabs, 3 Emerald Crabs, 1 Purple Reef Lobster, 1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 1 Red Sea Star, 1 Brittle Star, 1 Sand Sifting Star Fish 20 gal Quarantine tank Doot's Reef Chronicle

01-23-2008, 03:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Doot77 Scopas Tang Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: DeKalb, IL Posts: 467 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Red Crab ID the legs are hairy but not sure about the buzz cut. __________________ Matt ________________________________ 110 Gallon Oceanic with dual corner overflows and 40 gal Oceanic 150 Sump Livestock : - 1 Mystery Wrasse, 1 Fairy Wrasse, 1 Royal Gramma, 1 Diamond Watchman Goby, 2 Turbo Snails, 6 Nassarius Snails, 1 Fighting Conch, 6 Dwarf Blue Legged Crabs & 6 Dwarf Zebra Crabs, 3 Emerald Crabs, 1 Purple Reef Lobster, 1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 1 Red Sea Star, 1 Brittle Star, 1 Sand Sifting Star Fish 20 gal Quarantine tank Doot's Reef Chronicle

01-23-2008, 03:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
framerguy Tridacna maxima Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Clarkesville, Ga Posts: 4,994 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Red Crab ID Is it possible to look at the inside elbow joint of the claw appendage. The joint should be red if it's an emerald crab. Their body shell is usually knobby but hairless (though they could have algae growing on the shell which looks like hair), their legs are hairy. Their bodies come in various shades of green. I have one that's almost black, but all Mithrax' have the red elbows. They are reefsafe as juveniles but become more carnivorous as they age. If it turns out he's a gorilla definaltely get him out. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 375gDT built in wall, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, Aqua C EV-400 skimmer etc, etc, etc... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...areum-too.html

01-24-2008, 03:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
amc78cj7 Limpet Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: St. Louis Posts: 148 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Red Crab ID Please see this thread for better descriptions and PICS. I really would like to know what the red guy is. All my hitch hikers - PICS included for identification Jeff

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