Crab ID

[Alexopora]

Curious if anyone knows what kind of crab these two are.

 

[Alexopora]

I must add that they are smooth in texture and the picture really doesnt do it justice as the colours are way more vibrant irl.

 

[minus9]

Can you get a clear pic of their eyes and claws?

 

[Alexopora]

Can you get a clear pic of their eyes and claws?

Based on my observation so far, unlike Emerald and Pom Poms that like to hide in the rockwork, these guys burrow under the rock and into the sand.

 

[minus9]

Based on my observation so far, unlike Emerald and Pom Poms that like to hide in the rockwork, these guys burrow under the rock and into the sand.

They don’t seem reef friendly from what I’m seeing. The body and claw shape tells me not friendly, but I’m trying to dig a little deeper. I wouldn’t do anything drastic, but I would sequester them away from the tank.

 

[Alexopora]

They don’t seem reef friendly from what I’m seeing. The body and claw shape tells me not friendly, but I’m trying to dig a little deeper. I wouldn’t do anything drastic, but I would sequester them away from the tank.

Already considered that hence after acclimating them they were put into a breeder box which is essentially a hang back refugium connected to the main tank by pipes. So they are not with corals at all. Forgot to add that they arent hitchhikers but were bought from my lfs who couldnt quite identify them. Would really love to id them.

 

[OldRed1]

Could it be some kind of convex reef crab? Just shooting in the dark here.

 

[Alexopora]

Could it be some kind of convex reef crab? Just shooting in the dark here.

Thank you so much for your help. While searching up “convex reef crab” I stumbled upon the species name.

Liomera Cinctimana.

Scrolling so far doesnt yield any common name for it. So imma just call it Kidney Bean Crab for now since it reminds me of a kidney bean.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Curious if anyone knows what kind of crab these two are.

Im pretty sure these are stone crabs

 

[Alexopora]

Im pretty sure these are stone crabs

stone crab is a little too vague since many share this name as well. Already identified it as Liomera Cinctimana
Tentatively treating both colour variants as the same species since when I look up the species name both appear.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Im pretty sure these are stone crabs

Yeah, Liomera cinctimanus/cinctimana is a Xanthid (Stone) Crab species. These guys stay pretty small (largest I’ve seen suggested size wise is 6cm, the other places I could find said 3 or 4cm), but, given their family, I’d guess they’re not reef safe.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yeah, Liomera cinctimanus/cinctimana is a Xanthid (Stone) Crab species. These guys stay pretty small (largest I’ve seen suggested size wise is 6cm, the other places I could find said 3 or 4cm), but, given their family, I’d guess they’re not reef safe.

Reef safe - no way. They do however manufacture special tanks for these guys:

 

[Alexopora]

Since they are isolated in a HOB Breeder Box with no way of escaping into the main tank and they are poor climbers unlike Sally Lightfoot Crabs, they wont be flushed hahaha. Anyway I paid for them so flushing truly is out of the question. Will observe more on their behaviour and introduce some softies to their breeder box to observe their response. I have alot of those hitchhiker brown polyps so those are dispensable. Will update the results.

 

[OldRed1]

Could be great sump crabs!

 

[Brooklands]

Curious if anyone knows what kind of crab these two are.

I have the purple on in my tank. Never figured out what he was, but lived for 4 years without bothering any corals.

 

[Alexopora]

I have the purple on in my tank. Never figured out what he was, but lived for 4 years without bothering any corals.

These two are still living in my tank although they are in a separate Hangover Breeder box that is connected to the main tank. They are extremely reactive to feeding time and while stumble out of their hiding place once I drop mysis into the breeder box.