Crab ID

[v3x3d]

Any ideas on what this is? I found it in my sump and am trying to decide if it will be suitable for the display.

http://s2.supload.com/free/IMG_3026.jpg/view/

[Michael7979]

I would say leave it in the sump.

Does it have red eyes?

[csrdph]

I'm not sure what kind he is-but very cute! I have a seperate tank w/ little hitchhikers like this. They are fun to watch themselves.

[nu2reef-n]

It doesn't look very reef friendly. I would keep him in my sump until I could get a positive ID on what it is.

[v3x3d]

I would say leave it in the sump.

Does it have red eyes?

Yeah, it has red eyes.

[Michael7979]

Red eyes is uasually a sign of a 'bad' guy.

[oldbrownies]

not sure what they are, but I had one like that, more of a purplish color...

once he was removed my fish stopped dying in the night

[Holly]

I believe that's a member of the Xanthid family--specifically Platypodia eydouxii or the red-eyed Xanthid. They're said to be vegetarians and scavengers overall, but smaller species are said to sometimes nip at starfish...

If you scroll down on this wetwebmedia thread, you should see the photo of your crab, claws tucked under, red eyes looking forward: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/swcrabidfaq2.htm The folks at wetwebmedia couldn't identify it at the time, either, but that certainly looks like your guy to me...

Here's some general info on Xanthids: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/blueplanet/factfiles/crustaceans/xanthid_crab_bg.shtml

I believe (no guarantees!) yours is a juvenile red-eyed Xanthid (adults are much brighter), but I can't be sure. Attached is a photo of the adult. Here's some info on red-eyed Xanthid, but I have to say, getting any detailed info on this particular crab has been hard to do online. http://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/P/Platypodia_eydouxii.asp

Here's some better info, and a pic that looks like your guy: http://www.bluforman.com/intertidal/test/species/speciesPages/groups/crabs/platypodiaeydouxiiFG.html (but they didn't have much info either)

The species of Xanthid found in Singapore can be poisonous, but there are species in Hawaii (including Platypodia eydouxii) that are not. On this site, you can scroll down and find an adult Platypodia eydouxii from an Oahu tidepool, and it's actually very beautiful! http://www.marinelifephotography.com/marine/arthropods/crabs/crabs.htm

Since I'm not absolutely 100% sure about this, I emailed a marine bio lab with an inquiry, just to see if they respond and, if so, what they say... Never hurts to ask, right?

It looks, though, like you have what will be a very beautiful and unusual crab! (clap)

[Holly]

I guess these little guys eat coral polyps and mucus, so it prob won't do in your main tank. I totally missed this at first...