Please Help Identify This Crab!

[brianr]

Does anyone know what species this is and more importantly is he friend or foe?

 

[katara]

bump..I have the same crab but he will NOT come out of his rock.

 

[krishj39]

I can't ID, but it doesn't look friendly to me.

 

[clarkiiboi]

bumping ya---I hate to see a question unanswered, esp. with a pic!

 

[nm reef]

Sorry but I can't ID the crab. I have had one that looks like yours in my reef for over a year now. It came as a hitchhiker with a fist sized rock covered in polyps. The crab has always stayed in the same location and is seen from time to time picking algaes from amongst the polyps. Never has been a problem that I'm aware of...sort of farms the algae from his polyp field...and doesn't do much more than that.
I have always heard though that crabs like the one you've asked about can become pests....the sharp claws are a sign of potential problems...I'd definitely keep a very close eye on yours and at the first sign of problems remove it.
Maybe another member can provide a ID...for both of us.

 

[newbe reefer]

Looks like a Gorilla Crab to me. I'd run a web search and compair yours to some pictures. If it is a Gorilla I'd get it out now.
Hope that helps,
NewBe

 

[katara]

1 more 'lil bump..I'd love to know the id.Anyone??