At Long Last, A Crab Photo. Id If Possible Purleese!

[CageUK]

Just Spotted one of my hiker crabs mooching around under the rock. I dashed out to get my camera and managed to get a couple of (not very clear) shots. I then ran to get my video cam but he disappeared when I got back.

I know it's a long shot from the photos I have here but does anyone recognise it?

It's a whitish/grey colour with spotted claws and black/white striped legs

It looks a little like the Predatory Xanthid crab about half way down this page:

[URL="http/www.wetwebmedia.com/swcrabidfaqs.htm"]http/www.wetwebmedia.com/swcrabidfaqs.htm[/URL]

apart from the spotted claws that is. I do hope it is not as he looks a handsome little fella!

He was grazing the rocks, in a similar fashion to an emerald.

Here are pics, full shot first then digi close up. In the full shots the crab is more or less in the centre of the pic, to the left of the shroom.

Sorry I couldn't get more of his body shape in.

Hope you can help... it might explain where my other fish went!

If I do have to remove him (yeah that will be a job) it might just be the time for a pico tank!

Cheers

 

[SkiFletch]

Would agree, definitely appears more of an opportunistic crab as opposed to an herbivorous or symbiote crab. It may not be EXACTLY a Xanthid crab, but it's body shape would be one that I'd remove from my tank asap

 

[CageUK]

Darn, I knew you'd say that Ski

I'm away for a day or so, then I'm gonna have to look around for a crab trap methinks. I don't want to kill the little guy though so either see if the lfs wants him or maybe...just maybe look at my pico idea!

My other half's gonna love me...NOT

Cheers

 

[pimp4cheddar]

Why would you have to remove the crab from the tank...ask SKI suggested?


And where'd it come from? Did it just grow out of the live rock?

 

[CageUK]

It's a hitch hiker from the live rock. I've had at least one crab in there from the outset. I Have two crabs that I know of. The other one is a more of a red colour I think, but again it keeps itself scarce and I've only seen glimpses of it.

If it's opportunistic and I've lost two fish in suspicious circumstances I don't really want to take a chance and leave him in there. Who knows I may catch both together (yeah and pigs will fly)