Port A Identification questions

[phrog]

I was down to Port A for the first time since I started learning about marine tanks. I've been reading about different people collecting down there. I have some questions about different species I saw. I'm curious about these four animals. The crab, shrimp and shellfish were all spotted by the jetty. The other creature is one of many I found washing up on a section of the beach. I saw them attached to the rocks of the jetty also. What are these creatures and are any of them good for a home aquarium?



http://file.pixilis.com/upload/20080420/34180.jpghttp://file.pixilis.com/upload/20080420/34180.jpg

[MKCindy]

The third one I was told is a Rock Anemone. We brought 2 back last summer and they are still alive and fine in my tank. I was told they can sting the *** out of fish or corals so I keep they well away from anything else. They have not attempted to reproduce, but I'm keeping a close eye on them so they don't take over my tank.

The crab I'm not sure on, but was told to leave any hairy crabs alone. I was told all crabs are opportunist.

The last one looks like a Limpet (Doidora sp.), which are reef safe.

[aquasport24]

That looks like a baby blue crab, i dont think it reef safe.

[Jamie]

I've got limpets in my tank and they do a good job. They just can't turn
Themselves over if they flip upsidedown...which can get annoying.

[phrog]

Thanks for the info, y'all. About the shrimp/crawdad looking thing? Any ideas? Has little claws, so not a shrimp?

[Joshua]

I always called them sargassum shrimp because they come in on the mats of sargassum weed that's so annoying when fishing. The crab is definitely not reef safe, looks like a sargassum crab that probably came in on the same mat of weeds the shrimp came in on eh? :). Those rock anemones will eat anything they touch, them things have a serious sting cling to them.

[apedroza]

1st is definitely a blue crab (keep it out!!!), 2nd I agree with Josh is a shrimp found in sargassum. 3rd and 4th Cindy is correct are rock anemone and limpets. Only 2 and 4 would I put in a reef tank.

[phrog]

Well, the crab ate the limpet before anything could be considered for the tank. The shrimp looked happy for just a moment. His mood changed when the goby saw him. Then the goby looked happier. Good news, the goby is eating well.

I did find one other creature that looked awesome but way too small for my tank. It was black and silver. When seen from above it was shaped like a cross with the silver running down the back as a stripe. At each 'end' it was kind of frilly. The whole thing was about 1/2 inch long. It had no visible eyes, mouth, etc. I'd love to know what it was.

Again, thanks for the info y'all.

[aggie4231]

The crab is actually what most will call a sargassum crab.

[merlin0883]

The crab shaped just like a blue crab, but the color is wrong for sure. Never saw a sargassum crab, but guess others have. Either way, not safe. Also, I caught a pair of pistol shrimp off the tidal pools on San Jose island(took jetti boat from Port A across to north jetti). Pretty cool--green with blue eye-spots on the tail and a slight orange tint around the legs and claws. Had to set up a 2.5gal to keep them in. They love ghost shrimp.

[apedroza]

The two side spines and flat rear legs are definite markers for blue crabs. Juvenile usually hide in grass beds for protection until they are big enough to handle themselves.

[Joshua]

They're also markers for dozens of other similar species. ;-)

Looks like it's a juvenile Portunus sayi (aka Sargassum Crab).
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04etta/background/decapods/media/decapods_fig1.html