I've got crabs!

[coolhandgoose]

Okay, I've only got one crab, and it's in my tank, sickos :mrgreen:

I can't believe I've had the tank going for 6 months and haven't noticed it. Yesterday I was sifting around in the sand and saw a couple of crab claws, I thought that was weird. So tonight I look in my tank with a flashlight and get totally freaked out because I think there's a turantula in my tank, but really it was a crab crawling all over the rock. Then he goes and hides in a big hole in one of the rocks, which happens to be where I stuck a plug full of zoas. Which also explains why my Zoa plug keeps falling over and moving around.

So, two mysteries solved in one night. Now I just have to figure out it's ID and see if he's reef safe. Could explain why I had 5 nassarius snails and now only 3 seem to come out feeding time.

 

[daugherty]

can you get a pic of it?

 

[coolhandgoose]

I'll have to try tomorrow night, But of course that could prove difficult seeing as this is the first time I've seen it. It's brown if that helps. :)

 

[daugherty]

does it look like a spider?

 

[fastrd400]

Just a guess, but I'll bet a pay check it's bad. But see if you can find it in here.
Crab Hitch Hikers
Then again, if you say it looks like a tarantula, then I bet it is this one I just pulled out of my tank.

 

[daugherty]

or some kind of decorater crab

 

[coolhandgoose]

daugherty - Yeah I thought it looked like a spider.

Fastrd400 - I think mine was a lighter color. It realy blended in with the rocks, almost like a lightish brown color, and quick.

 

[daugherty]

just a few but i bet you could get a small one as a hitchhiker

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+627&pcatid=627

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+1466&pcatid=1466

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+625&pcatid=625

 

[coolhandgoose]

I looked at the website and I really can't say for sure what type it is. I'm definately no crab expert, they all look the same to me.

 

[coolhandgoose]

I guess it was really more crab like than spider like, I was just surprised to see it so my immediate thought was huge spider lol :)
It doesn't look like any of the ones from liveaquaria though.

 

[daugherty]

maybe a gorillia crab

 

[coolhandgoose]

The closest on the hitch hiker site is the second picture of the mithrax crabs

 

[daugherty]

if it is catch it and get rid of it alot of the are preditors

 

[coolhandgoose]

Would they eat snails?

 

[daugherty]

maybe along with fish

 

[coolhandgoose]

Well I'll try my best to get a picture of it tomorrow, won't be easy at night.

 

[daugherty]

if it has pointed claws than get rid of it

 

[coolhandgoose]

Oooh, that reminds me, I can get you a picture of the claws since they are still in the tank, I think he molted a while back and the claws are still there.

 

[dcantucson]

Maybe it is a dreaded Sea Spider?

 

[XxKnuckleheadxX]

maybe a gorillia crab

i bet its a gorilla crab too..