Found a crab

[ocikitty]

Several months ago my 2 perculas just disappeared a couple of days apart. Thought something must have eaten them, maybe a crab. Did see a shell a few weeks later. Last night my daughter spotted a crab in a hole in the rock. From what I can see it is white with a brownish patch on its head and the claws are tipped with black. Does not look hairy from what I can see.
Any ideas? It is only about the size of a quarter. Could he have killed my perculas?

 

[reef bug]

I have hitchhiker crabs too and got freaked out when I first discovered them. I caught one and put him in the sump but two are still on the loose... It's difficult to identify them becasue there are so many species. I've checked all the sites and have not been able to ID eitehr of them.
One of mine has black tip claws as well. I've been observing him for a few months now to see if he has to be removed.... here is what I've learned. He's very shy and not agressive. None of my corals have been damaged so far, so I am assuming he is reef safe since he lives near a few. He sometimes comes out for food, but runs if he sees me. He also seems afraid of my fish. If your black tipped crab is the same as mine, I seriously doubt he killed your fish. He certainly may have eaten them after they dead though. Did you search the hitchiker ID post on this site? It has some crab pics... also try to get a picture of yours for a better chance of a correct ID.

 

[renogaw]

i have a black tipped crab as well, he's been a little more visable lately i'll try to grab a pic of him, but his pincers are sharp (not spoony like mythrax) so i'm trying to get him out.
i would doubt a small crab could kill fish...maybe nick a fin or something but there has to be something else wrong to kill your percs.