dsoz Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 While giving the tank the once over this morning, I noticed this crab molt. I have never seen this guy in person, and don't know what he is. Can anyone tell me what kind of crab it is so I can research them? Thanks in advance. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 no idea, but fascinating colors, looks like his claws are pretty small, a sign of a safe crab, but not easy to tell from pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbatman99 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 That is wild Dennis. Reminds me of some rare amazon frog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 flip it over so we can see the legs and claws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 As you wish dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanktop74 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Sure is a cute little guy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Harlequin and Swimmer crab have similar colors. Can't find any with the same pattern though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 The blacked tipped pointy claws look like those of a Xanthid crab. Other than that, I have no clue. I have a hunch that you'll be hunting for him the next few nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCG CWO Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Xanthid crab I am with Chewie on this. I think the black claws give it away. The crabs themselves can be different colors. [ATTACH]5165[/ATTACH] I'd say if you find him remove him. Shane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowman Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I concur with Shane and Jon. He is probably a polyp eater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Yep. Been missing any polyps or seen corals go downhill and not know why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 The folk over on Nano-reef identified it as a Gaudy Clown Crab (a member of the Xanthoidea family). I knew most of the time black tips are bad... I will probably set a bottle trap for him for the next couple of nights. Then it is destined to the sump. I'll even put in some ugly brown palys that it can munch on if it wants. Yep. Been missing any polyps or seen corals go downhill and not know why? It is in my anemone farm tank which also serves as my coral QT. I have lots of zoanthids in there that are being observed before going into the DT. Some are doing great, and some are not... I don't think that this little crab can be the cause of all the polyps that are missing. I think there are other issues going on. Thanks for all the input. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Whatever it is, it's pretty cool looking. Would be a good addition to a FOWLR or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonH Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Does it eat anything other than Zoas? I would love to get a cool looking crab (or something else) that eats only Zoas. I should look into that... Too bad, it's certainly an attractive crab. Of course, if you never see it - I guess that doesn't matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I bannished the mantis to my sump....and he has dissapeared. Probably went through the impellers up to the display to terrorize my new snails again..sucker Cool crab by the way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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