dangerous hitchhiker?

[rocketeer]

Check out this crab I removed from my reef tonight.

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~rocketeer/HitchhikerCrab.JPG

I've been losing some small fish like firefish and young false percs. Some of these assaulted fish have shown trauma like torn fins before disapearing. Does anybody out there think this guy might be guilty?

Jack

[CD]

Whoa...that's a funky looking fella!
How big is it? Hard to tell by the pic.

Wendy

[Ram_Puppy]

I would say it's highly probable... you know all crabs, even the very best reef 'safe' specimens are opportunistic, if they can eat it, they will. food for someones mantis.

[rocketeer]

He's about 1.25 inches across.

[360Reef]

Looks like an emerald crab, I agree With Ram Puppy, this guy will take out small fish if given the chance.

-Greg

[don-n-sa]

I will take him if you dont want him

[donniekim]

teddy bear crab? or gorilla crab?

[rocketeer]

I may have to make you sign a waiver. :-D

Jack

[cvonseggern]

I don't think that's an emerald. Even the claws appear to be hairy. I say feed it to Don's mantis!

Chris

[rocketeer]

We watched Don's mantis use it as a punching bag. He takes a lickin' but he keeps on tickin'. :?

Hey Don, is he still alive?

Jack

[cvonseggern]

That's impressive. I don't know how big Don's is, but peacock mantises get big. How big is the one in question? Anything that can stand up to that for even a short time scares me :)

Chris

[rocketeer]

His mantis will certainly grow some. The crab is about 1.25 inches wide and the mantis is, i'm guessing about 6 inches long. I guess that crab has a really hard shell.