What kind of crab is this and is it reef safe?

[((FORDTECH))]

Hello I got some rock from kp and this was one of the hitchhikers was wondering if anyone can tell me what it is and if it’s reef safe ?

 

[StatelineReefer]

If it's got claws it breaks laws...

Best way to tell is feed it and watch how it uses it's claws.

Safest thing is to assign him sump patrol duty.

 

[Uncle99]

4000+ species of crabs.
Most opportunistic and eat what they can catch.
Bad risk.

 

[Tired]

Looks like a mime crab of some sort. They stay teeny, and are reef-safe by virtue of being too small to kill anything. Cute lil guy.

If you wind up not keeping it in a 'fuge, see if anyone locally wants it. If not, kill it humanely- it didn't choose to be here.

 

[WheatToast]

Looks like a mime crab of some sort. They stay teeny, and are reef-safe by virtue of being too small to kill anything. Cute lil guy.

If you wind up not keeping it in a 'fuge, see if anyone locally wants it. If not, kill it humanely- it didn't choose to be here.

Not sure if it’s a mime crab (Epialtidae) since these have smaller eyes that are positioned closer together, though it would certainly make for a cool sump addition.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

Crab ID is hard for me, but, OP, by chance, could you get any higher contrast photos of the crab (i.e. can you get photos of it under brighter light)?

 

[Goonofthelagoon]

Ill buy him off you, would look amazing in a pest tank

 

[damsels are not mean]

looks cool, which means it can't possible be reef safe because they would be selling tons of them

 

[madmarks]

Like a previous poster suggested, I'd sump him to see what he eats.

What is interesting is that claws are relatively small for a crab, as if built for picking and grazing. The KP site has Red Mithrax crabs for sale. It might be one of these. (The picture is actually from their site).

 

[vetteguy53081]

Im thinking boxer crab

 

[Stomatopods17]

Its a mithrax, the white tipped claws are a typical trait of them.

It should be peaceful but granted I don't consider mithrax crabs saints either. Won't pick coral, might pinch a fish that annoys it. Worth keeping til it grows, wouldn't keep with macro algae though. Idk what specific mithrax it is, might even be just a juv-red mithrax crab.

 

[jabberwock]

I think red mithrax also. I have one in my pest tank. I typically just say no to crabs in my display tank. Although I do have 4 porcelain crabs which are really cool filter feeders.