New Reef Hitchhiker Discovery

[ZooMontana88]

Hey y'all! So I just discovered a new hitchhiker in my reef community tank. This hitchhiker resides in a live rock I've had since mid-February of this year (2 mths). I am having a hard time identifying it. I have included a video I took today...

 

[35ppt]

Giant hermit crab I think.

 

[ZooMontana88]

Giant hermit crab I think.

Do you think it's stuck? Should I move the rock it's in?

 

[Arthacker87]

Dunno without seeing it really. Maybe porcelain crab by leg markings? I dunno

 

[Damon Jensen]

I think hermit, maybe without a shell. I do see them completely out if they don't have a big enough shell....it is called dinner, at least in my tank.

 

[Arthacker87]

haha I wish a fish would eat this pep shrimp. I feel like he is pestering some coral including my gold torch ;Nailbiting could just be cleaning it but I dunno

 

[ZooMontana88]

I think hermit, maybe without a shell. I do see them completely out if they don't have a big enough shell....it is called dinner, at least in my tank.

I did introduce red and blue legged hermits in early March. I doubt it came in with them though... The backside of it looks hard shelled.

 

[Damon Jensen]

Let us know if you figure it out

 

[35ppt]

Do you think it's stuck? Should I move the rock it's in?

If it was me I would want to know what that is so I would move rocks and capture it in a acclimation box or the like to get good photos of it.

 

[ZooMontana88]

Let us know if you figure it out

Will do!

 

[ZooMontana88]

If it was me I would want to know what that is so I would move rocks and capture it in a acclimation box or the like to get good photos of it.

I will update asap!

 

[ZooMontana88]

Update w/new video

Well
this crab does not want to leave it's cave but I did get a very telling video of it...

 

[35ppt]

Some kinda crab, if you're able to take the rock out and put it over a bucket he will drop out and into the bucket eventually.

/Or else I would try to build a trap to get him out.

 

[StatelineReefer]

Leave a meaty bit of clam or mussel in a baby food or pickle jar tilted 45 degrees against a rock just after lights out.

The crab will go into the jar to get the food, but not be able to climb the glass walls.

 

[ZooMontana88]

Leave a meaty bit of clam or mussel in a baby food or pickle jar tilted 45 degrees against a rock just after lights out.

The crab will go into the jar to get the food, but not be able to climb the glass walls.

Currently it only eats the algae in its cave... I will attempt a slice of brine cube tonight and see if it will come out. Ty!

 

[TriggerFinger]

I can’t see your pictures so I’m not sure what you have. But I was just reading on a live rock website last night to dip the rocks in 1.040 salinity for a minute to get undesirable hitch hikers out of the rock.

 

[ZooMontana88]

I can’t see your pictures so I’m not sure what you have. But I was just reading on a live rock website last night to dip the rocks in 1.040 salinity for a minute to get undesirable hitch hikers out of the rock.

I posted videos. Here's a photo though...

 

[ZooMontana88]

I can’t see your pictures so I’m not sure what you have. But I was just reading on a live rock website last night to dip the rocks in 1.040 salinity for a minute to get undesirable hitch hikers out of the rock.

I posted videos. Here's a photo though...

 

[ZooMontana88]

I posted videos. Here's a second photo. Reminder that this crab has black claws. It also has semi hairy legs with beige/white tips. She'll is smooth and orange. Total size is est. To be about dime to nickel size...

 

[StatelineReefer]

Red eyes, large crushing claws, Definitely not a crab you want to grow up in your reef tank. Baby food jar, strip of clam or squid or mussel.