Hawaiian Strawberry Crabs

[Wu Tank Clan]

Picked up some strawberry crabs from a local store. They seem quite different. Is this male vs. Female of the species? Or do i have 2 separate species of crab?

 

[BristleWormHater]

I cant find definitive images online of male/female strawberry crabs. Theres not a lot of sexaul dimorphism (physical differences between m/f) in crabs. For my vote, the one on the left with no spots is a similar but different species. You can sex crabs by looking at the apron (their underbelly). Heres a decent image, this one shows emerald crabs, couldnt find one for strawberry crabs. The pattern difference should still be there.

 

[i cant think]

Picked up some strawberry crabs from a local store. They seem quite different. Is this male vs. Female of the species? Or do i have 2 separate species of crab?

Definitely two separate species of crab, Strawberry crabs (Neoliomera pubescens) all look like the second crab, rather than the solid red with striped legs seen on the first crab.

 

[christinna77]

My strawberry crab pair definitely matches to the one on the right.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

I seen a bunch of these coming in lately. I saw mixed opinions of if they are reef safe. Anyone have any experience with them?

 

[twentyleagues]

I seen a bunch of these coming in lately. I saw mixed opinions of if they are reef safe. Anyone have any experience with them?

No.

 

[Wu Tank Clan]

Im getting closer. This was hard to track down. Im thinking it has to be in the Xanthidae family... there's apparently like 19 subspecies.

 

[Wu Tank Clan]

Or this....

 

[Tangdora]

Get a good look at them and save the photo. You will have a better shot at seeing big foot first before you ever seem them again lol. Added one in my last setup. Think I saw it 2 twice ever and both time was like in the middle of the night when the room had been dark for hours and I happen to turn the room light at like 2am in the morning. Year past and never saw it again. When I broke down the tank found it hiding in the darkest spot. The back still alive the are very elusive.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Im getting closer. This was hard to track down. Im thinking it has to be in the Xanthidae family... there's apparently like 19 subspecies.

Xanthidae is one of the largest families of crabs, around 500 species in 133 genera. Strawberry crabs are in this family as well. Neoliomera insularis looks correct but hardly any images of it exist. I would assume this is just as safe as the strawberry crab since they are both Neoliomera, strawberry crabs are neoliomera pubescens.
@ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[BristleWormHater]

Xanthidae is one of the largest families of crabs, around 500 species in 133 genera. Strawberry crabs are in this family as well. Neoliomera insularis looks correct but hardly any images of it exist. I would assume this is just as safe as the strawberry crab since they are both Neoliomera, strawberry crabs are neoliomera pubescens.
@ISpeakForTheSeas

I was able to find more pictures, many were incorrectly labeled as Liomera insularis but are the same species, I think this is the crab you have. Heres a link to inat observations, not too helpful since theres only 7, and the WoRMS database.

Observations

Observations of Neoliomera insularis

www.inaturalist.org

WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Neoliomera insularis (Adams & White, 1849)

www.marinespecies.org

 

[twentyleagues]

I was able to find more pictures, many were incorrectly labeled as Liomera insularis but are the same species, I think this is the crab you have. Heres a link to inat observations, not too helpful since theres only 7, and the WoRMS database.

Observations

Observations of Neoliomera insularis

www.inaturalist.org

WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Neoliomera insularis (Adams & White, 1849)

www.marinespecies.org

Nice work! I dont trust or like crabs in a reef tank, really any of them they are all opportunistic feeders. I do have respect for pithos though and have not had an issue with the 4 I put in my reef early in the year. I still dont 100% trust them though. Nothing with black claw tips will ever go in one of my reef tanks, possibly a species tank they are still cool.

 

[christinna77]

Get a good look at them and save the photo. You will have a better shot at seeing big foot first before you ever seem them again lol. Added one in my last setup. Think I saw it 2 twice ever and both time was like in the middle of the night when the room had been dark for hours and I happen to turn the room light at like 2am in the morning. Year past and never saw it again. When I broke down the tank found it hiding in the darkest spot. The back still alive the are very elusive.

100% this. Luckily, I know where one of mines hides during the day (deep in the rock, can barely even see it), so I can check on him regularly. Otherwise, they're never out.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Xanthidae is one of the largest families of crabs, around 500 species in 133 genera. Strawberry crabs are in this family as well. Neoliomera insularis looks correct but hardly any images of it exist. I would assume this is just as safe as the strawberry crab since they are both Neoliomera, strawberry crabs are neoliomera pubescens.
@ISpeakForTheSeas

Picked up some strawberry crabs from a local store. They seem quite different. Is this male vs. Female of the species? Or do i have 2 separate species of crab?

Yeah, definitely separate species - N. insularis would be my best guess at this point as well for the one on the left, but pictures of the species and their close relatives are hard to find and a mess to sort out (several of the pictures I can find are likely different species either from the same genus listed under the same name, or are a completely different crab species/genus that happens to look similar like Bruciana pediger).