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View Full Version : Crab ID (pix added)


BIGBIRD123
Fri, 11th Dec 2009, 07:44 PM
i found a crab in my fuge that is about 2" across the body with spines on the shell and it looks as though it has a snout. It is brownish red in color and has long legs and narrow claws. I took a picture of it but can't find the cord to download it. It does not have hairy legs.

any help...good crab/bad crab...???
BIGBIRD123
Fri, 11th Dec 2009, 07:47 PM
This thing looks like a giant tick but with spines on it back, not long spines but spines.
Kristy
Fri, 11th Dec 2009, 07:54 PM
I don't know but it doesn't sound pretty!
snfkotara
Fri, 11th Dec 2009, 08:02 PM
Maybe its a blue crab female?
los.tejanos83
Fri, 11th Dec 2009, 08:34 PM
Look fwd to a pic...i've been losing wrasse in my tank (those like to burrow in substrate) and wonder if there is a late night predator in tank or are my tangs getting aggressive.
snfkotara
Sat, 12th Dec 2009, 06:15 AM
Could be your star fish sometime they will ambush a wrasse that sleeps in the sand. Or maybe you have a mantis shrimp.
los.tejanos83
Sat, 12th Dec 2009, 09:41 AM
Not trying to hijack thread, but I also thought the starfish. Was told by others that starfish are not aggressive and would only go after decaying/dying fish...is that true...hmmm The starfish is about 5 in across...it looks like the color of my substrate...beige and speckled. Look fwd to bigbird's pics.
snfkotara
Sat, 12th Dec 2009, 10:18 AM
Well that is a sand sifting star and I have never heard of them ambushing sleeping wrasse. So I would just stay up late with some lunar lights on and watch to see if something else is coming out at night. If it were the tangs I think you would definitely see the picking going on during the day. Mine do it all day.

Steve I googled spiny saltwater crab images and that when I saw the blue crab female and it looked like what you described. I would love to see you pics also because now Im really curious to see it. But that was really educational and informative look for something that fit you description.
BIGBIRD123
Sat, 12th Dec 2009, 02:01 PM
here is a pic of it:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC02556.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC02555.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC02557.jpg
los.tejanos83
Sat, 12th Dec 2009, 03:18 PM
It's the Prius of reef tanks--a hyrbid land/sea tick :bigsmile:
BIGBIRD123
Sat, 12th Dec 2009, 03:32 PM
it could be this...

http://www.assateague.com/aq-spid.html
BIGBIRD123
Sat, 12th Dec 2009, 03:35 PM
more info...

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/559838/spider-crab
BIGBIRD123
Sat, 12th Dec 2009, 03:39 PM
Libinia emarginata.....Common Spider crab
BIGBIRD123
Sat, 12th Dec 2009, 03:39 PM
guess I'll keep him in the fuge...lives off of carion and algae.
BIGBIRD123
Sat, 12th Dec 2009, 03:43 PM
of course i hope it's not this type of spider crab...

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/152097082_a0788d18af.jpg
kkiel02
Sat, 12th Dec 2009, 04:08 PM
i had the same crab hitchhike when I bought a zoa rock. Did some research and even asked on here but couldnt find anything with that pointy of a nose. I couldnt ever catch it as it was super small but it has yet to hurt anything I can tell and I havent seen it in quite awhile.
Jarob
Sat, 12th Dec 2009, 05:40 PM
Its a decorator crab, Ive caught tons of these little guys in the bay and when looking for peps in port a. Ive put one in my tank before (in my old tank) and it nipped some gsp off and glued it to his back and walked around with bright green polyps on his back, too funny.

Camposcia retusa

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/site.php?postnum=2342