Crab Identification

Hi all, I'm italian and this is my first post on this ng.
I'm trying to identify a crab that I've discovered in my small reef
tank (4g):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big_cory/267291286/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big_cory/267289474/
At the moment it seems to be quiet and it doesn't annoy corals and fish
(at the moment I've only xenia and zoanthids and a yellowtail damsel
fish). I often saw it eating on the sand and on the live rocks, so I
suppose, but I'm not really sure, that it could be "vegetarian".
His sizes are about 2/2.5 cm (0.8 inches) but his pincers are very long
as compared with the body...I'm a little woried about this...
I know that it's very hard to identify the exact species, but I would
like to know, at least, the family (I mean xanthidae, mitrhax and so
on) or if, in your experience, crabs could be considered reef-safe.I
know, for example, that xanthidae are not reef-safe.
Just another info: I've seen many "skeleton's crab" (sorry but I dont'
know the exact word) in the tank, so the crab it's growing up.

Bye and sorry for the length of the post.

Upon looking though your pictures I've seen this pest before some sort of
nuisance Hydrozoans
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big_cor...7594082214807/

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hydrozoans.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hydrozoanfaqs.htm

Can't really see the crab...sorry.


"cory" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi all, I'm italian and this is my first post on this ng.
I'm trying to identify a crab that I've discovered in my small reef
tank (4g):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big_cory/267291286/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big_cory/267289474/
At the moment it seems to be quiet and it doesn't annoy corals and fish
(at the moment I've only xenia and zoanthids and a yellowtail damsel
fish). I often saw it eating on the sand and on the live rocks, so I
suppose, but I'm not really sure, that it could be "vegetarian".
His sizes are about 2/2.5 cm (0.8 inches) but his pincers are very long
as compared with the body...I'm a little woried about this...
I know that it's very hard to identify the exact species, but I would
like to know, at least, the family (I mean xanthidae, mitrhax and so
on) or if, in your experience, crabs could be considered reef-safe.I
know, for example, that xanthidae are not reef-safe.
Just another info: I've seen many "skeleton's crab" (sorry but I dont'
know the exact word) in the tank, so the crab it's growing up.

Bye and sorry for the length of the post.

cory wrote:

I'm trying to identify a crab that I've discovered in my small reef
tank (4g):

Perhaps http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=08998

George Patterson
All successes in conservation are temporary. All defeats are permanent.

Looks like a common rock crab. When small they usually
don't cause much harm, but can be a problem when they get
bigger.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



cory wrote on 10/17/2006 10:14 AM:
Hi all, I'm italian and this is my first post on this ng.
I'm trying to identify a crab that I've discovered in my small reef
tank (4g):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big_cory/267291286/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big_cory/267289474/
At the moment it seems to be quiet and it doesn't annoy corals and fish
(at the moment I've only xenia and zoanthids and a yellowtail damsel
fish). I often saw it eating on the sand and on the live rocks, so I
suppose, but I'm not really sure, that it could be "vegetarian".
His sizes are about 2/2.5 cm (0.8 inches) but his pincers are very long
as compared with the body...I'm a little woried about this...
I know that it's very hard to identify the exact species, but I would
like to know, at least, the family (I mean xanthidae, mitrhax and so
on) or if, in your experience, crabs could be considered reef-safe.I
know, for example, that xanthidae are not reef-safe.
Just another info: I've seen many "skeleton's crab" (sorry but I dont'
know the exact word) in the tank, so the crab it's growing up.

Bye and sorry for the length of the post.

* Wayne Sallee wrote, On 10/19/2006 2:59 PM:
Looks like a common rock crab. When small they usually don't cause much
harm, but can be a problem when they get bigger.

I have one that I brought home from a day at Galveston beach last spring. Dark
brown with black-tipped claws. He was about the size of half my thumbnail when
I put him in my 8-gal. hex. He grew. And he grew. He ate my peppermint
shrimp. He picked off my baby feather-dusters and macroalgae. He started
tunneling and digging. Dug all the sand out from under the rock -- lowered my
reef by 2", tipped over rocks. So I put it back. He did it again. So I put
him in another tank all by himself. He has a gallon of water, a disc of
decorative coral, a piece of live rock, a tiny fountain pump, a bunch of empty
seashells and a couple of mangroves that are starting to root. He eats like a
hog, and is about 1 1/2-2" across. Attacks chopsticks, chases floating plastic
toy jellyfish out of his "spot," will grab your finger if you put it in his
hole. His name is Macho Crab. He's great, but I wouldn't have him back in the
main tank for anything.

Cindy

* Cindy wrote, On 10/19/2006 3:31 PM:
* Wayne Sallee wrote, On 10/19/2006 2:59 PM:
Looks like a common rock crab. When small they usually don't cause
much harm, but can be a problem when they get bigger.

I have one that I brought home from a day at Galveston beach last
spring. Dark brown with black-tipped claws. He was about the size of
half my thumbnail when I put him in my 8-gal. hex. He grew. And he
grew. He ate my peppermint shrimp. He picked off my baby
feather-dusters and macroalgae. He started tunneling and digging. Dug
all the sand out from under the rock -- lowered my reef by 2", tipped
over rocks. So I put it back. He did it again. So I put him in
another tank all by himself. He has a gallon of water, a disc of
decorative coral, a piece of live rock, a tiny fountain pump, a bunch of
empty seashells and a couple of mangroves that are starting to root. He
eats like a hog, and is about 1 1/2-2" across. Attacks chopsticks,
chases floating plastic toy jellyfish out of his "spot," will grab your
finger if you put it in his hole. His name is Macho Crab. He's great,
but I wouldn't have him back in the main tank for anything.

Cindy

Oh and he has 2" of sand to dig in.

Cindy ha scritto:

* Wayne Sallee wrote, On 10/19/2006 2:59 PM:
Looks like a common rock crab. When small they usually don't cause much
harm, but can be a problem when they get bigger.

I have one that I brought home from a day at Galveston beach last spring. Dark
brown with black-tipped claws. He was about the size of half my thumbnail when
I put him in my 8-gal. hex. He grew. And he grew. He ate my peppermint
shrimp. He picked off my baby feather-dusters and macroalgae. He started
tunneling and digging. Dug all the sand out from under the rock -- lowered my
reef by 2", tipped over rocks. So I put it back. He did it again. So I put
him in another tank all by himself. He has a gallon of water, a disc of
decorative coral, a piece of live rock, a tiny fountain pump, a bunch of empty
seashells and a couple of mangroves that are starting to root. He eats like a
hog, and is about 1 1/2-2" across. Attacks chopsticks, chases floating plastic
toy jellyfish out of his "spot," will grab your finger if you put it in his
hole. His name is Macho Crab. He's great, but I wouldn't have him back in the
main tank for anything.

Cindy

Also my crab is growing up and it's starting tunnelling and digging
under the rock. I'm considering to get it out of the tank and carry
back to my reef shop...maybe I can exchange it with a coral frag.

cory