Crab ID Please

[theishkid]

Can someone please help me ID this crab? I have a small baby that hitchhiked on some TBS sand, but I also have a larger one that the LFS mistakenly thought was an emerald crab. These videos are only the baby crab. A few key features... Black Pincers... they use their hind legs to hold on to rockwork behind them, and the larger one grabs corals, rocks, and snails to guard the hideout he made in the sand and rock.
I thought they might be gorilla crabs at first but they don't have very hairy legs.

 

[TX_REEF]

@LiverockRocks tagging the experts :)

 

[theishkid]

Here's a not-very-good-quality video of the larger one. I'm just not sure if they are reef safe or not. It was cool watching him move sand around to make his home though.

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

Can someone please help me ID this crab? I have a small baby that hitchhiked on some TBS sand, but I also have a larger one that the LFS mistakenly thought was an emerald crab. These videos are only the baby crab. A few key features... Black Pincers... they use their hind legs to hold on to rockwork behind them, and the larger one grabs corals, rocks, and snails to guard the hideout he made in the sand and rock.
I thought they might be gorilla crabs at first but they don't have very hairy legs.

Sent photos to J. We do not have a positive identification on this crab. J calls it a 'mud crab' and it probably behaves like a gorilla or a stone crab (does not get very big). It is ivory color with dark claws, when it matures it will get dark splotches on its back.

@ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Any pics of the full back/top (dorsal side) of the crab under white light?

Crab ID can be really tough, but regardless of the species here, I would assume that crab is not reef-safe. It could be a cool sump critter though.

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

Any pics of the full back/top (dorsal side) of the crab under white light?

Crab ID can be really tough, but regardless of the species here, I would assume that crab is not reef-safe. It could be a cool sump critter though.

Any pics of the full back/top (dorsal side) of the crab under white light?

Crab ID can be really tough, but regardless of the species here, I would assume that crab is not reef-safe. It could be a cool sump critter though.

This is what we refer to as the ‘mud crab’ with adult coloration. Its been in my personal display tank for over a year. Nocturnal scavenger observed picking debris off rock. No fish loss, but clean up crew is dwindling, lol.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

This is what we refer to as the ‘mud crab’ with adult coloration. Its been in my personal display tank for over a year. Nocturnal scavenger observed picking debris off rock. No fish loss, but clean up crew is dwindling, lol.

Nice! I'll add this to my list to try and ID when I've got the time.

 

[theishkid]

OK... after two hours last night getting him onto a rock, then taking the rock out I was able to get him out of the tank and into the sump. But here's a video just to verify what he is.