What Kind Of Crab is This?

[rock cod]

I have had my tank set up for ten months now and for the first time seen this crab in my tank. It lives in the live rock and is red with little spikes or hair on it. It is about 1/2 inch long. I have only seen it once it is very shy it must of came along with the live rock. Hope it is not the dangerous crab, it doesn't look pretty at all, it looks very predatory.

 

[gobylover]

If it is a very hairy dark colored crab,GET RID OF IT NOW.really,any crab you didn't buy is potencially dangerous to your tank.If its the above one,I had one that picked apart my corals and my fishes fins!

 

[saltwater4me]

I'm not 100 percent possitive on this, but i'm pretty sure. It's a mantis shrimp. GET RID OF IT ASAP! It will kill your little fish and inverts, very evil crabs.

 

[grouperhead]

if it is only .5", i seriously doubt its a mantis shrimp. someone had a post like this, and it ended up being a mithrax crab with algea on it. someone else might know what it is for sure. bo

 

[seatank]

i just wanted to say is it a little on the brownish side and you said it was hairy if so i have one that hitch hiked with my L/R and had it for about 9-10 months now if it is what i discribed it is only a reef crab (harmless) just to put your mind at rest.

 

[kappadoku]

Saltwater4me- HOW IN THE HELL DID YOU COME TO THE CONCLUSION ITS A MANTIS SHRIMP?
He said its a crab. That would mean its not a shrimp. (No. Maybe its a copepod...)
Rock cod- If you didnt put it in there, do some research on emerald crabs or mithrax crabs. If it doesnt look like one of those, make me some crab cakes for dinner. Or maybe a nice crab rangoon...

 

[seatank]

Hey kappa be nice everyone makes mistakes.

 

[dugan]

I agree it could be an emerald... I have one that's red! Can you post a pic?
Katie

 

[kappadoku]

That was nice.
Im so pissed that everytime somebody comes on with an ID question the first thing out of some rookies face is "Its a 4 inch long black copepod!" or "Its a mantis Shrimp! KILL IT!"
Now, dude said it was a crab, and to me, crabs look nothing like shrimp.
LESEE... Crabs- circular body, size of a quarter, large grabbing claws.
Mantis shrimp- upto 4 inch elongated body, Hidden pincers/appendages. If you dont know what it is, dont confuse the poor newbies.

 

[saltwater4me]

hey kappadoku or whatever your name is, i bet you were a beginner once, and you made some mistakes. You aren't the "master" at saltwater fish. I bet you gave some bad advice before.And can you read? I said that i'm not sure, just a guess. Now you didn't hafe to criticize people every chance you get.

 

[kappadoku]

When I was a newbie, i didnt pretend to know what I was talking about. Go back and look at your post.
"but i'm pretty sure. It's a mantis shrimp. GET RID OF IT ASAP! It will kill your little fish and inverts, very evil crabs.
Are you sure youve even ever seen a mantis shrimp? Are you sure its a shrimp and not a crab?

 

[seatank]

WOW alot of tention back off you to and help if you can.

 

[goofieones]

I agree with KappaDoku, if you don't know, then why even bother posting? Just so you can raise the number of posts? As a newbie I wouldn't answer questions I didn't know. In general if you haven't even seen a mantis shrimp, why even post that it could be one. How much sense does that make.

 

[goldfish]

I just had this discussion the other day with HE WHO SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS!! about opening up his mouth before getting his brain in gear.
I totally agree with you on this one. I keep my mouth as quiet as can be unless I have a question myself, or totally know the answer (which is not very often).
Let's be patient though...the newbies can wait for answers from sharks or other knowledgable folks on this board if they are unclear about the information given.

 

[corky]

anyway, back to the real issue... Rock Cod, have you ever had a chance to see an emerald crab to compare it too? If not, you can use the online store on this site to look one up. I know you said it is redish in color. There are so many species of crabs that it's hard to say for sure what kind you have. I may have a very similiar crab in my tank that I've been observing for quite a while. His body is similiar to the emerald, has a redish body, and red eyes. So far he hasn't done any damage to my knowledge (he's been in the reef tank for about 6 months). He is very slow moving and usually comes out at night otherwise he stays hid inside a hole in the rock.
[ July 11, 2001: Message edited by: corky ]

 

[blueberryboomer]

If anyone is not sure what a mantis shrimp looks like you can click over to my web site, we have a picture of one we bought on purpose. They are very cool critters when kept by themself. Very beautiful, and yes very mean critters. Sad to say when I turned his light on yesterday he wad dead. I'm thinking he was old. Thats the only thing I can figure, water reading we're normal, and he was eating really good. If you've never seen one and would like to know what they look like for future ref. click on over..
http://www.angelfire.com/my/reeftank
Later Lisa

 

[twoods71]

Mantis shrimp are not actually shrimp nor crab.Anyway there is some cool video at a website I seen once of a mantis in action.
We are not allowed to post links so I cant do that.
Hopefully I am not in violation of the rules by telling you that you can go to *******, search for mantis shrimp and with a little looking around you will find the video. That is against the rules....SALTY
[ July 12, 2001: Message edited by: MR . SALTY ]

 

[craigj]

It sounds like a Blacktail Snaggletooth Crab...the evilest of all crabs. I saw one decapitate a man once. And not just any man. Take that for what its worth! People, lighten up!

 

[twoods71]

The dreaded Blacktail Snaggletooth, isnt that the crab they are now blaming for the sinking of the Titanic?
Thanks for the laugh CraigJ, that was funny.

 

[goofieones]

Rock Cod, if you think it came with your lr, how long have you had that? If it's been in your tank awhile, and you see nothing missing, that is a good sign. And you said it was red, well Emeral crabs come in many colors, I have a strawberry colored one.... he is so cool. Does this crab have stuff growing on it's back? Maybe it's a decorator crab, I have one and it's also red.