ID on a monster????

[big]

OK what is this little beast name. He came apparently in a piece of live rock in a friends tank several weeks ago... Well she saw him and at first just watched. He was tiny maybe 1/4 inch or so, and seemed to only dig in the substrate at first. Well the other night she found him munching on a Leather........ So after hours of trying to catch the little bugger, she shows up here with the little beast in a cup.
Well now he is a prisoner in my sump. If he keeps growing at the rate he is in another molt or two, I am going to fry him and make a soft shell sandwich out of him. He is already about 2 inches in size, and growing like a weed.... What the heck kind of crab is he....."Tanks" all...... Warren

 

[donald]

WOAH, that thing is freaky. If he keeps growing thoes legs might be good with a little butter

 

[grabbitt]

That thing is NASTY lookin...

 

[jonthefishguy]

looks like a spider crab to me.

 

[grabbitt]

Originally Posted by jonthefishguy
looks like a spider crab to me.
You may be correct...

 

[keri]

I think it's a decorator crab.... yup, gunna go with that

 

[emm0909]

Looks like a crustation... But smells like lunch!

 

[ice4ice]

Grabs Old Bay seasoning , melted butter, bib and boiling water kettle ...
LUNCH !!!!

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by Ice4Ice
Grabs Old Bay seasoning , melted butter, bib and boiling water kettle ...
LUNCH !!!!
Stone Crab season opened here in Fl today. I love stonies.

 

[gillyweed]

Originally Posted by jonthefishguy
looks like a spider crab to me.
Note the shape of the shell in the spider crab pic above, they are quite distinctive and a giveaway. Almost all spider crabs have that teardrop shaped shell, pointed to the front

Keri, I think you may be right about the decorator crab though. He was probably trying to break off some of the leather to add to his shell for camo

 

[nettygold]

OK, I am the one that gave "big" this monster, I enjoyed watching him grow from eraser size to about 1/2 dollar size in about 3 weeks, but when I found him pulling away at my leather, he had to go. (was thinking about the butter thingy too!)

 

[big]

Originally Posted by nettygold
OK, I am the one that gave "big" this monster, I enjoyed watching him grow from eraser size to about 1/2 dollar size in about 3 weeks, but when I found him pulling away at my leather, he had to go. (was thinking about the butter thingy too!)

OMG you can type

After a year reading everyones stuff !

 

[dogstar]

Its a Mithrax sp., perhaps M. forceps.