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View Full Version : ID this Crab


mkengr45
Fri, 16th Jul 2004, 11:55 AM
I caught this crab while I was relocating my tank. Is he reef safe. Let me know what yall think.

Randy
Instar
Fri, 16th Jul 2004, 12:13 PM
Can't tell from the picture, but, are his legs hairy? Was he a resident of the bottom or just fell out of an acro colony? If he is a bottom resident, hairy or not, then that crab with the black tip claws is a resounding absolutely NOT reef safe. Its hard to tell from the picture exactly, but, he looks like one of the most carnivourous killers of the rock crabs. Good only for a FOWLR in a predator tank if at all. The black tips can split open clams and oysters, even larger than themselves, just to give you some idea of their strength. Of course they eat them then. There is another like this that eats sps, skeleton and all. Not kidding here. Its usually a hitchhiker in an acro though and masquarades as if it was a true acro crab. It has hairy legs, if its that one.
mkengr45
Fri, 16th Jul 2004, 12:21 PM
Yes it does have hairy legs. I have no acros. It came out of a big piece of live rock. I had seen him living in the rock for the past few weeks, but just got a chance to get hm out whe I relocated everything. Well it sounds like I sure as hell dont want him. Should I take him back to a store, flush him, someone here want it? If it were reef safe I would put him back, but if I cant fnd out for sure I would wrather not chance it. Thanks for the help.

Randy
brewercm
Fri, 16th Jul 2004, 01:26 PM
If your planning on going to the meeting next weekend you could take him for bait if you fish. :grin:
Other than that you can put him in a sump or fuge if you don't want to send it down the drain.
Ram_Puppy
Fri, 16th Jul 2004, 03:54 PM
looks like another video opportunity for INstar and his Mantis to me! That is some good watchin...
Instar
Sat, 17th Jul 2004, 02:58 AM
Our club president has the mantis. It would be good food for that mantis, thats for sure. I got a tiny speck of a crab in a cluster of barnacles once. He grew to be an eating sized rock crab in my sump. Good cleanup for the sump, but, if it gets big you'll have to feed it a couple times a week at least.
brewercm
Sat, 17th Jul 2004, 03:24 AM
I've got a mantis also, usually just feed it raw shrimp.
Ram_Puppy
Sat, 17th Jul 2004, 07:06 AM
yes, brewer, but raw shrimp does not make for hi drama videos! ;)