Crab Identification

gmusick

gmusick

Member
I will attempt to get a picture of this crab, later this afternoon. I found this crab in my tank and have no idea how it got in there. It is about the size of an emerald crab, but it is white, or off-white in color. The side of it's shell where his face is, extends outward about 3/4 inch. This crab has three bulbous looking knots on it's shell. All in all, it's really an ugly animal. I have no idea if it is good or bad for my tank. I have been watching this thing for several days now, since I discovered it in the tank, and it seems to be a bit agressive (waving it's claws at fish), but hasn't really messed with or harmed anything, including corals. It seems like it would be simple to get out, since it stays out in the open, but not really sure that I want to at this point.
 
K

kimc

Guest
Is the crab hairy?? Are the claws pointy (like for tearing meat)?? Can you post a picture?
 
bigarn

bigarn

Active Member
Yep .... pointy claws are for tearing, which isn't a good thing. A pic would help though.
 
gmusick

gmusick

Member
Yes, Hairy legs like the legs on an emerald crab, but not overall hairy
Yes, pointy claws, but small claws. He sure is an ugly rascal! It's face looks like a lobster, and his body looks like a crabs who has had nuclear experiements performed on it.


 
tnt

tnt

Member
I just got a decorator crab the other day. Your crab's legs remind of one. A decorator crab picks up things from their environment and "glues" them to the hairs on its body. Is it possible that the things on its back were placed there? They often have sponges and even anenomes growing on their shells. Mine has several bits of orange sponge growing on it.
 
gmusick

gmusick

Member
It doesn't look like those lumps are anything that was stuck on it's back, but like they are knots or tumors on the back of this crab. I have known about this crab being in my tank for a week or more, but have not seen it grab anything and place it on it's back. You may be right... I hope so. I think decorator's are cool crabs.
 
tnt

tnt

Member
I only have a decorator and some hermits. idk about the other species so it was just a guess. Certainly is weird looking! Good luck!! :thinking:
 
gmusick

gmusick

Member
I know my pics aren't overly clear, and I can't see your pics really well, so it's hard to say. I do agree that the legs look really similar, but the legs also look similar to my ruby and emerald crabs. I can see items stuck to the back of your crab. There is nothing like that on the back of my crab. What color is yours, under all the decor?
 
tnt

tnt

Member
He's tan and white, I think. He has an awful lot of stuff stuck to him so it's kinda hard to tell.
 
gmusick

gmusick

Member
I've taken more pics. I will size them and get them on here tomorrow. I would really like someone to help me identify this ugly sucker
 
mr_bill

mr_bill

Active Member
OH OH I know just what this is....
I was playing this game called Halflife on the PC and these vary things kept leaping at my face trying to mutate me into an evil interdimensional zombie.
Keep your face away from the top of the tank, you've been warned.
 
mr_bill

mr_bill

Active Member
:scared:
Yikes, that is really ugly. I think I'd do humanity a favor and save it from being turned into interdimemensional zombies by that thing if I were you. I doubt the LFS would take that back, maybe they are already zombies and spreading these face latchers too the rest of the population starting with the saltwater aquarium owner since we are the dominant life form on the planet of course.
 
tnt

tnt

Member
I found a hydroid crab. It's a type of decorator crab, but they decorate themselves with hydroids. Could those bumps on its back be hydroids? I don't know what one looks like, just a guess!
 
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