Crab ID

DRoth335 · Oct 2, 2016

We swapped tanks a few months ago and used TBS liverock (awesome stuff, BTW!) and have at least 6-8 of these small red crabs that I can't identify. They look like a minature batwing crab which I hope not as they get ginormous. I apologize for the crappy pics but didn't realize just how bad they are until I had already banned the captive to the sump. Any ideas?

KJ · Oct 2, 2016

Xanthidae crab. Put it in your sump.

Roboson · Oct 2, 2016

Put a rock in the sump. If he hides under it and you never see him again, it's a xanthid. If he clings to the side and you see him again, he's a mithrax.

Either way, he doesn't look like a display pet.

DRoth335 · Oct 2, 2016

Thanks for all the input. They definitely hide under rocks. Only see them at night. Several more to go.... Also caught and rehomed 2 mantis shrimp so far.

Sully · Oct 2, 2016

Does it look like this?

KJ · Oct 2, 2016

Sully said:
Does it look like this?

Red Mithrax crab.

skybears · Oct 2, 2016

DRoth335 said:
Thanks for all the input. They definitely hide under rocks. Only see them at night. Several more to go.... Also caught and rehomed 2 mantis shrimp so far.

OMG that is the one thing i am deathly afraid of "manits shrimp" the only thing i am scared about with all my live rock coming

DRoth335 · Oct 14, 2016

Sully said:
Does it look like this?

No, it doesn't look like that. It is red (vs. orange-ish) and the claws have black tips. I will catch another one and get a better pic. They are relatively easy to catch when out in the open (sneak attack with flashlight at night).

Sully · Oct 15, 2016

Then I would say bad crab, especially with the black tips.

skybears · Oct 15, 2016

DRoth335 said:
mantis shrimp

What did you do with them, I'm scared to death to get them in lr

DRoth335 · Oct 22, 2016

skybears said:
What did you do with them, I'm scared to death to get them in lr

Gave them to a local person who had been looking for them for a species tank. It was a win-win-win for everyone (especially the shrimp!)

DRoth335 · Feb 25, 2017

Resurrecting this thread as I caught 2 more of the hitchhiker crabs. Hopefully this is a better pic for an ID - crab is unharmed - just put him on the tile for a photo op on the way to the sump!