Crab Hitchhiker ID Help

[ACNaturalHistory]

Hey Everyone!

I got TBS live rock @LiverockRocks for my tank in June and love all of the life that is now in my tank because of it!

Today, when I was feeding my tank, I noticed a small crab that I imagine hitchhiked in on the TBS live rock (although, of course, I cannot be 100% certain of that, but I do not have another theory as to how it got in there). I was able to catch it and would love help IDing it (see pictures below).

Description:

• Body: Smooth, flat and wide with three rounded edges—one at the front, two at the sides.
• Color: Top ~¾ of carapace is blackish-blue, lower margin lighter.
• Legs & Claws: Mostly white.
• Claw Tips: Just the very tips are black.
• Size: Smaller than my pom-pom crab.
• Behavior: Found hiding under a rock (came out to grab some frozen shrimp pieces)

I have not been able to ID it and would love to hear what you think it is!

 

[bluemon]

Probably a juvenile gorilla crab of some kind.

Maybe a stone crab?

Either way I’d toss it

 

[ACNaturalHistory]

Probably a juvenile gorilla crab of some kind.

Maybe a stone crab?

Either way I’d toss it

Thanks! I did.

 

[iannarelli]

Thanks! I did.

They're perfectly fine in your sump. I missed a couple juvies and now have at least one about the size of a dime in my sump.

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

Hey Everyone!

I got TBS live rock @LiverockRocks for my tank in June and love all of the life that is now in my tank because of it!

Today, when I was feeding my tank, I noticed a small crab that I imagine hitchhiked in on the TBS live rock (although, of course, I cannot be 100% certain of that, but I do not have another theory as to how it got in there). I was able to catch it and would love help IDing it (see pictures below).

Description:

• Body: Smooth, flat and wide with three rounded edges—one at the front, two at the sides.
• Color: Top ~¾ of carapace is blackish-blue, lower margin lighter.
• Legs & Claws: Mostly white.
• Claw Tips: Just the very tips are black.
• Size: Smaller than my pom-pom crab.
• Behavior: Found hiding under a rock (came out to grab some frozen shrimp pieces)

I have not been able to ID it and would love to hear what you think it is!

Howdy,
My how time flies, sorry to have missed this thread! Did you end up sumping the little crab?
J calls these guy's mud crabs, much like a gorilla, they do best in the sump.
Rock on.
Wen