Mystery Crab?

johnny&sin

johnny&sin

Member
Today I purchased a piece of LR at the LFS and found this little guy in it. He is about 1"1/2 long and has black tipped claws. Looking online I think that he might be Lophopanopeus bellus bellus (Black-clawed crab), but does anyone know if this is it or something else? Is he reef safe with corals and fish? All input is greatly appreciated...


 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Black tipped pointy claws means meat eater, bad crab usually. If you want to keep him put him in the sump.
JMO
 
aquatica-tech

aquatica-tech

Member
Looks like a Gorilla Crab
IMO if it has pointy claws, its bad for your tank inhabitants.
If you had a fuge dump him in there
 
johnny&sin

johnny&sin

Member
I have him in my LR curing tank right now. Don't have a refuge but I'll try him in the sump with some live rock and see how it goes. What should I feed this guy?
 
kjord97

kjord97

Member
Definatly a male crab, place in sump. I dont think it is a gorilla crab, unless it is a close relative.
Here is my friends gorilla crab she got from some live rock in florida.
 
fishy7

fishy7

Active Member
Black claws = bad. The sump is a good home for him. I caught a stone crab that has been living in my tank and eating my clean up crew. Congrats on finding him before putting him in your tank.
 
johnny&sin

johnny&sin

Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2482101
Small children neighbors, any meaty food really.

Originally Posted by kjord97
http:///forum/post/2482251
Definatly a male crab, place in sump. I dont think it is a gorilla crab, unless it is a close relative.
Here is my friends gorilla crab she got from some live rock in florida.

Originally Posted by FISHY7
http:///forum/post/2482379
Black claws = bad. The sump is a good home for him. I caught a stone crab that has been living in my tank and eating my clean up crew. Congrats on finding him before putting him in your tank.

Thanks...I'm moving him from the QT tank to the sump today. I've grown quite fond of this little guy, I hope he lives down there
 
sk8shorty01

sk8shorty01

Active Member
Originally Posted by FISHY7
http:///forum/post/2482379
Black claws = bad. The sump is a good home for him. I caught a stone crab that has been living in my tank and eating my clean up crew. Congrats on finding him before putting him in your tank.


Not to be the bringer of bad news but I am pretty sure stone crabs are a protected species...
Here is a quote I found from a website:
(1)(a) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to catch or have in his or her possession, regardless of where taken, for his or her own use or to sell or offer for sale, any stone crab, or parts thereof, of any size between May 15 and October 15 of each year, except for stone crabs, or parts thereof, placed in inventory prior to May 15 of each year.
and here is the website if you would like to read more...
https://taxlaw.state.fl.us/view_stat...l%20Categories
 
amyandbrandon2

amyandbrandon2

Member
Laws are broken all the time. I bet just today or yesterday you were speeding. Did you get caught? No. Is it still against the law? Yes.
It's not like they went looking for this little guy just to break the law.
If you want to keep him, just keep him in your sump. You like the little guy and it's not like the Crab Police are going to come to your house and tear down your tank just because you MIGHT have a Stone Crab.
 
sk8shorty01

sk8shorty01

Active Member
Originally Posted by amyandbrandon2
http:///forum/post/2482658
Laws are broken all the time. I bet just today or yesterday you were speeding. Did you get caught? No. Is it still against the law? Yes.
It's not like they went looking for this little guy just to break the law.
If you want to keep him, just keep him in your sump. You like the little guy and it's not like the Crab Police are going to come to your house and tear down your tank just because you MIGHT have a Stone Crab.


I never said that laws were not broken all the time, and I also never said that I was a model citizen, I am not sure why that would even come up. I am not trying to say that this person is going to get caught because they found a stone crab and put it in their tank, because chances are that is not going to happen. Nobody of importance is going to know that it is there, but I was just trying to supply someone with some information that they might not have known about because if you bring it up enough online eventually you could bring it up to someone that could do something about it. I don't care that they have one in the tank, and I am not trying to point the finger and make anyone look bad, I was just simply stating information and I dont know why that is a problem. I am not sure why you are taking a jab at me for simply informing someone about an animal and the laws that protect that animal so that certain individual can be a little more educated on what is going on in their tank.
 
T

tkcaptiva

Guest
Let me begin by saying thanks to all of you for your assistance in the past. I am new to this fascinating hobby. I recently added some beautiful Fiji rock loaded with colors.Unfortunately, I have discovered that I now have 3 growing crabs. I am guessing that they are now about 2 inches across and my coral is beginning to disappear. Two are skinny black crabs with pointy claws. The other looks like a football player, tan in color with meaty powerful claws. I cannot identify and they are too shy for pictures. Any suggestions?
 
fishy7

fishy7

Active Member
Originally Posted by sk8shorty01
http:///forum/post/2482633
Not to be the bringer of bad news but I am pretty sure stone crabs are a protected species...
Here is a quote I found from a website:
(1)(a) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to catch or have in his or her possession, regardless of where taken, for his or her own use or to sell or offer for sale, any stone crab, or parts thereof, of any size between May 15 and October 15 of each year, except for stone crabs, or parts thereof, placed in inventory prior to May 15 of each year.
and here is the website if you would like to read more...
https://taxlaw.state.fl.us/view_stat...l%20Categories
Thanks for the information on the stone crab, but I did not go and seek him he showed up in my live rock. He's been in my tank for 2 years before I discovered him. Protected or not I had nothing to do with it and do not really care what happens to him. I passed him on and he lives in a new home....... somewhere
 
fishy7

fishy7

Active Member
All good on this side. No need to apologize.... so you do not have to accept an imaginary apology.HAHAHA
I did not take it as arguing, but can see how it can be mistaken for that.
 
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