HELP: Crab ID "You! Up against the wall & spread 'em"

mikersof

mikersof

Member
Hey all,
Know its late. Just added a couple of things today and noticed this fella. The ONLY hermits in my tank are supposed to be Blue Leg other than the one Electric Blue. This is not the Electric Blue nor does it look or act like the Blue Legs.
You see it here attacking my brand new Queen Conch. I grabbed him and tossed him in the other end where he went right to a new Colt frag on a small rock that was on the sand. He started burrowing under the rock turning the new frag over. He dug around under the rock for a bit and then moved on.
OK, from what I know, non-hairy legs and rounded claws makes him "most likely" reef safe. He is about the same size of the Blue Legs. Anybody know what he is and any experience with them? HELP???
THANKS!
james =)

 
T

tiberius

Guest
I don't know what he is but he is pretty! Just make sure you have bigger shells for him to grow into. Reason why he was checking out the conch shell.
 
coral keeper

coral keeper

Active Member
Originally Posted by Tiberius
I don't know what he is but he is pretty! Just make sure you have bigger shells for him to grow into. Reason why he was checking out the conch shell.
I agree.
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
I have on also, it must have been with the blue legs. it is now in a shell that about 2 inches long. I am getting ready to take it to lfs as it is getting to big for my comfort
 
mikersof

mikersof

Member
OK, so he's a Mexican Stripped Leg Hermit.
It is no secret how hermits like to swap out shells. Some just kill a snail to get the shell. I truly believe that some hermits develop a taste for es cargo and will kill a snail for a treat.
There's no option to move him somewhere "safe" unless I put him in my canister filter

There's 25-30 extra shells in various sizes in the tank. I mentioned the Electric Blue. He will get about twice the size full grown as a Blue Leg. So I have provided.
Anyone know just how big this guy will get? I've watched him a bit more now that I know he is different. He likes to dig in the sand around the edges of the LR.
Any other info would be appreciated. My only other option is to load him up and take him to a LFS.
THANKS AGAIN!
james =)
 
dodgr31

dodgr31

Member
I have one of those and wondering what it was! He is huge and just took over a monster shell that I had in the tank for decoration
 
blaze98

blaze98

Member
Originally Posted by MikerSof
Anyone know just how big this guy will get?

Someone on the board had one as big as a lemon, it is her avatar pic.
 
donald

donald

Member
Originally Posted by mudplayerx
Looks like one of the hermits native to the Gulf Coast. They prefer cooler waters and grow enormous.
We have them all over the coast here. They can get the size of a tennis ball. They are aggressive. I have even seen a couple of them with anemones on their shell while I was diving. My local ***** has them for 6$ for one the size of a golf ball. You can go to any shoreline here and get them for free.
 
myzislow

myzislow

Member
wow. I have one of those as well. He came as a hitch-hiker from a purchase at my LFS. I stuck him in the display and noticed right away that he was not like my other hermits as he instantly went after a snail, flipped him over and began his attack. I immediately removed him and put him in my HOB fuge where he still resides. He has gotten huge and looks to be needing a new shell soon. I'll probably just take him back to my LFS, all I need is him climbing up the egg crate and back into my display
 
b-baby80

b-baby80

Member
Actually he is a Striped hermit crab (Clibanarius vittatus),Some places sell them as reef safe.Their also known as the thin stripe hermit.The ones i have never bothered my snails or baby starfish.I guess since the shell would have been to small and their claws are to big and rounded to eat them.Mine i had to buy their shells and they were almost $5 each just for their shells.Although i will say they aren't feather duster safe.Well atleast the really big ones like mine aren't.I do have a smaller one and he only cleaned it's tube not actually bothering it.They are really good cleaners i mean real good.I love to watch them.
They are a very hardy crab.Known to live out water for days.They are marine though.They've been used in alot of studies on fish etc...
I've done alot of research on them and have my own personal experiences with them too.Though it's hard to find much info_Other than they are scavengers and very hardy.
 
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