Who's this crabby fellow?

[musipilot]

Hi all. This guy came hitched to a non-pulsing xenia we just got. I thought at first it was an anemone crab, but its lacking the tell-tale 'nets'. Anyone? He's pure white.
http://www.miniocean.com/crab.jpg

 

[tang_man_montreal]

He sure is purdy.... have no idea what it is?
Looks like a white emerald crab (if that even exists)...

 

[bang guy]

Beautiful animal! Looks like a predator to me. I'd set up a species tank and see if you can figure out what it eats.

 

[joe's reefer]

its an albino emerald!!!na i dunno what it is if u dont want it i'll take it

 

[slothy]

since its unnamed ! lets name it the great albino slothy crab ? hehe

 

[musipilot]

Strange little guy...my sailfin blenny has been chasing him around, but he doesn't seem to care. Anyone know what it really is?
http://www.miniocean.com/crab.jpg

 

[bang guy]

With the color and the fact it came in on your Xenia, it wouldn't surprize me at all if it were a commensal Pontonides sp. There are only a couple hundred members of that group though I don't think you'll ever know for sure but I think it's a better than 50/50 chance that it's a commensal.
It would still be a predator though and you should make an attempt to feed it so it doesn't have to hunt.

 

[wingnut]

might be able to find what he is with this sitehttp://www.reefimages.com/

 

[musipilot]

I checked the images site...wouldn't you know it? They have a photo that is almost identical, and its labeled "Unidentified soft-coral crab"
Sheesh!

 

[musipilot]

Interesting development with the unknown mystery white crab...
tonight I gave the tank it's weekly silverside treat (I feed the shrimps and the rhodactis by stick) and a piece fell onto the xenia where this crab lives. He grabbed it and sucked it down like theres no tomorrow...so he's at least a carnivore. I suspect he's eating the xenia, but if he is its so slow I can't really notice. But now I know I can supplement him with marine meats. Still can't find the little bugger on any website tho!

 

[karlas]

just because he ate the silverside doesnt mean hes strictly a carnivore all crabs are scavageners and will eat the easiest meal they can find. but if you can feed him to keep him happy go for it he is a cool looking crab. take a good look at his claws are the ends pointy and sharp or dull and flat? if there dull and flat chances are its an alge eater sharp and pointy then a good sign of a carnivore. but still a very cool looking crab