Tag-along crab

[newbe reefer]

I just bought an 8lb. florida live rock from a local pet store, when I put the rock in my tank a small crab crawled out!! I have not been able to get a picture of it yet so I will try to describe it as best I can. His body shape is similer to a Sally Lightfoot, his coloring is gray in a muted patteren, his claws are medium size, he is covered in "hair" and has dug himself a home under a small rock. I just want to know if the mystery crab will harm anything in my tank. So far he only pokes his head out of the sand at the rock base.

 

[dsa_mom]

I can't ID for sure for you, my guess would be any of many "rock" crabs. As for safety, I can only relate what we saw--at first the crab (another hitchhiker) in our tank was timid and hard to find, but as he grew he became bolder and was much more visible. He finally had to go when I saw him on the highest rock actually REACHING OUT with his claws when a fish came by. That was adios mister for him. Good Luck!

 

[newbe reefer]

Thanks Redcorsair!!!! I just went out to the web and found a picture of a Gorilla Crab and that is definatly what I have. But I could only find the picture no information. Will he be bad for my 12 gallon nano-reef? I have hermits, snalls, polyps, bubble tip anemone, 3 sexy shrimp, a pom-pom crab, a yellow tail damsel and a clown.
Thanks again I'm really glad to know what it is.

 

[newbe reefer]

Well we destroyed our tank set-up getting the Gorilla out but I know I could not have slept another night knowing he was in there.
Thanks lots, I never would have figured out what it was if it weren't for this message board.

 

[doodle1800]

Here's a pic

 

[newbe reefer]

I called my LPS to see if they would take it. They were basically laughing at me. No one wants something in there tank that will kill the others. I did feel bad to have to do it, like putting out mice traps.

 

[doodle1800]

wooahhhhh....
Its not my crab - I just posted the picture - thats all... I'm just the messenger. I personally would have went out and bought another small tank and kept it.

 

[kpogue]

If I have a $100 fish and a $0 crab that is going after it, I guess I'll offer the crab to its maker and keep the fish in my tank!