Grey Crab Hitchiker With Red Eyes

[Alex Brown]

I used to feed this guy bacon when I set my tank up around 8 months ago, he then moved cave after shedding his shell and I havnt seen him since.

Last night I finially got a photo of him. Anyone know what species he is? I watched on as he picked at the coraline and brown algea from the rock. I also found a baby one of these crabs on a piece of liverock I got from a shop for a frag, he was less than 5mm long, so I added him into the tank anyway.

 

[TigerIssey]

Crabs with red eyes are usually from the geus Menppidae or Xanthids and are Predators that can attack any fish or invertebrates that they manage to subdue. They should be removed without exception.

Taken from Marine World Magazine, Friend or Foe Artcle 8 Dec/Jan 2003.

 

[TigerIssey]

Here is the link to the article I quoted earlier

Friend or Foe, Choose article 8

 

[SkiFletch]

Opportunistic omnivores usually. I'm presonally not a fan of crabs like this either and would advise removal just in case it decides to ambush your favorite piece of livestock.

 

[bitfishy]

I have one of these in my tank and can't get the little *&$£%$%^^ out. He's been in there for two years, and every now and again a fish disappears never to be seen again. I can't prove it's him - it might not be - but I always wonder.........

 

[rabbut]

You want a bottle trap. Cut up an old coke bottle, and place a bit of food in the bottom 3/4. Flip the neck over and tape it on with some gaffa tape. Stick the thing in near the crab's favourite hiding place, and it should crawl in for the food and get trapped. The trap hay get other livestock though, so you may need to free one or two un-intended prisoners, but it should grab the crab you are after if left long/often enough

HTH
Rabbut

 

[Alex Brown]

Poor guy....

Might move him to the frag tank, he had grown more than three times the size since I have had him.

 

[rabbut]

Got him at last Now all we need is a close-up Macro photo to ID it properly