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No it’s not, I used to have one and they look completely different.It's a ruby mithrax crab.
I’m definitely going to remove it I’m just curious if it’s bad or not anyway.I know I'll get some kickback on this... However...
I'm going to say if you didn't add it, call it bad. Usually the hairy ones are always bad. This one I have no idea what it is based on those legs. So I would call it bad for the tank by default.
Maybe others have more input on what it is though.
No it’s not, I used to have one and they look completely different.
I got another video but it’s hard to get a video of it.You may need to remove the crab and get some clearer pics of it - pics of the top of the shell showing the full body of the crab, and pics of the claws (preferably from the front of the crab) would be helpful.
I got another video but it’s hard to get a video of it.
That’s going to be hard to get because it rarely comes out. What do you think it could be just from what you can see from these videos?Yeah, a top-down, straight-on pic of the top of the crab would help - you need the aerial perspective to really see the shape of the shell/carapace.
My best guess (which may be wildly inaccurate) is a Chlorodiella species like the one linked below:That’s going to be hard to get because it rarely comes out. What do you think it could be just from what you can see from these videos?
I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what it is. are they bad?My best guess (which may be wildly inaccurate) is a Chlorodiella species like the one linked below:
They're safer than most crabs, but I'd say probably reef-safe with caution (not many people keep them, though, so that's from a small sample size to work with).I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what it is. are they bad?
I'm fairly confident you've got a young Chlorodielline crab of some variety there, probably a Chlorodiella sp., possibly C. nigra, but I'm not entirely sure.
The pattern on the legs may change a bit as it ages, and it should develop a somewhat rougher carapace, but it should stay small (adults of most of these species have a carapace size typically right around ~0.4"-0.75" full grown, so it really shouldn't pose a threat to most livestock - no guarantees with corals though) - there are claims that these can reach 8 cm/~3.14" full grown; I have seen absolutely no evidence to support that (even if you include the legs in the measurements).
I have seen one exceptionally large individual with a carapace width slightly less than 3 cm (it was ~1" carapace, and ~6 cm total counting fully outstretched legs); even at that size, it should be around the same size to somewhat smaller than a grown emerald crab.
I have also seen these for sale as "Black Mithrax Crabs" (no, they are not Mithrax crabs, nor are they closely related) - they're purportedly reef-safe, but I've also heard they may eat small inverts (like brittle stars).