Murder in the Sump

[Dr. D]

I posted a couple of weeks ago about a hitchhiking crab I found in my sump:



Consensus seemed to be it was a stone crab, maybe 1.5” across. Today I found his remains in the sump:



Lurking nearby was a much smaller, strange looking crab who is a person of interest in the apparent murder. This is the clearest pic I could get. The claws are facing Southeast in the pic. It seems to have hairs or spines all over it:




What is this terrifying creature?

 

[Lasse]

Are you sure the "stone crab" is really dead and not just molted?

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Dr. D]

Hadn’t thought about that. I have to admit I don’t know.

 

[Freenow54]

Yup interesting Lobster do it I did not know that either

 

[painter1982]

Looks like a gorilla crab

 

[Staghorn]

Quite a bunch of thugs hanging around in your sump.

 

[Dr. D]

It’s chaos in there! All from the TBS live rock.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Looks like maybe a molt to me, a clearer photo of the eyes could determine for sure.

 

[CHSUB]

A molt for sure…mine molts and it’s hard to tell the difference. It is now so huge it’s scary.

 

[BristleWormHater]

The other crab looks like a "gorilla crab", a general name for what I belive is an undescribed species in the Xanthidae family. I doubt one of those could take down a florida stone crab, david vs Goliath situation there lol.
A better picture may help with a further ID, but im pretty sure that crab is an undescribed species.

 

[CHSUB]

Just got a picture….got a trap, but now he has figured out how to get out so I have to stay up all night and watch!

 

[CHSUB]

The other crab looks like a "gorilla crab", a general name for what I belive is an undescribed species in the Xanthidae family. I doubt one of those could take down a florida stone crab, david vs Goliath situation there lol.
A better picture may help with a further ID, but im pretty sure that crab is an undescribed species.

Yes, no way a gorilla crab is taken down a stone crab, mine is crushing snails to dust. Last week crushed my conch…

 

[Dr. D]

Very interesting— thanks for all of the knowledge. I’ll keep an eye on doings down there. I’m certainly afraid to stick my hand in anymore.

 

[Koty]

If a crab after molting has nowhere to hide until his shell hardens he is very vualnerable.

 

[CHSUB]

For fun op…last night my crab started eating my $440 scolymia. Had to move the coral and hope it survives!

 

[CHSUB]

He is hungry, moving around…today is the day…

 

[CHSUB]

Got her….

 

[BonnieB]

Yeah, gorilla, good job, you’re hired next time I face this!!

 

[CHSUB]

Yeah, gorilla, good job, you’re hired next time I face this!!

Yes, it has been about 10 months in the tank but only started destroying stuff about 2 months ago. Florida Stone Crab, actually very good to eat…

Some we caught and ate in the keys…

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Lurking nearby was a much smaller, strange looking crab who is a person of interest in the apparent murder. This is the clearest pic I could get. The claws are facing Southeast in the pic. It seems to have hairs or spines all over it:

Pilumnid crab, probably the Spineback Hairy Crab, Pilumnus sayi - not reef safe (TBS calls these Hairy Gorilla Crabs).