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FAQs about Marine Crab Identification 5
Related Articles:
Crabs,
Hermit Crabs, Related FAQs:
SW Crab Identification 1, SW Crab ID
2, SW Crab ID 3,
SW Crab ID 4, SW Crab ID 6,
SW Crab ID 7, SW Crab ID 8,
SW Crab ID 9,
Marine Crab ID 10,
Marine Crab ID 11,
Marine Crab ID 12,
SW Crab ID 13,
SW Crab ID 14, SW Crab ID 15, & Marine
Invertebrate identification, Marine
Crabs 1,
Marine Crabs 2, Marine Crabs 3,
Marine Crabs 4, Crab Behavior,
Marine Crab Selection,
Marine Crab Compatibility,
Marine Crab Systems,
Marine Crab Feeding,
Marine Crab Reproduction,
Marine Crab Disease,
Micro-Crustaceans, Amphipods,
Copepods, Mysids,
Hermit Crabs,
Shrimps,
Cleaner Shrimps,
Banded Coral Shrimp,
Mantis Shrimp,
Anemone Eating Shrimp, Crustacean
Identification, Crustacean Selection,
Crustacean Behavior, Crustacean
Compatibility, Crustacean Systems,
Crustacean Feeding, Crustacean
Disease, Crustacean Reproduction, | .jpg)
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Lymph transfer,
Crab removal 4/18/06
Hi Everyone!
After several months
of non-eventful fishkeeping, I have two questions for you.
First, we have a yellow tang that has been in QT for the last
month-plus after purchase. He's a great little guy – growing fast,
very healthy eater,
loves playing in the current, but had what
we determined was Lymphocystis on his tail starting in week 1 of
QT. Despite our concern, we followed
fish store and FAQ
instructions (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/lymphfaqs.htm)
and just left him alone with care to water quality, and the spot
disappeared at the end of week 3. (yay!)
<Good>
Five days
later, there's a new tiny spot on one of his fins. My question is
whether we should continue to quarantine
him until he has a
month free of this, or if it's okay to put him in the display tank
with our two Ocellaris clowns and our Royal Gramma.
<I would
move, place this fish>
The water quality is higher in the main
tank, but I don't want the other fish to catch it.
<Not likely>
Second, we have a hijacker crab that appeared in our tank last
fall. When we first saw him, he was about ¾" across and only
partially visible at night. Since then, we've pulled out a few
dead crabs of the same type. (For a good picture, see here:
http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/252/1727/640/DeadCrab.jpg Note
bristly hair and black-tipped pincers.) One of my Blog readers ID'd
it as a Pilumnus
fissifrons, which seems right on, except that
there is almost no information about it. We've spied bits of legs
in the rock over the last few months,
but haven't seen the full
crab until last night. We were horrified to realize that his body
alone is now two inches across and with his legs he's
over
three. He's bigger than our fish. We watched him for long enough
to conclude that he seems to be eating just coralline algae and is
scared of the
fish, but is big enough that he's actually
shifting the rocks as he feeds. We want him out of the tank, but are
at a loss as to how. He seems more or
less to move between four
5-10 lb rocks, some of which have zoos and mushrooms, so we don't
want to lose them. He's a very quick mover when he's
scared and
only comes partway out of the rocks, so catching him with a net
seems daunting. And he seems, for the moment, not to eat meat, so
we're not
really sure how to seed a trap. Do you have any
advice how we might go about removing this quickly growing, creepy
crab from our tank?
<Can be trapped or baited/removed. Please
read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/swcrabcomp.htm
and the linked
files... I would remove this animal, pronto.>
Thanks for your
help on both points! The WWM site is such a godsend.
Susan and
Kevin.
<I'd say this is more of a Bobsend m'self. Bob Fenner> | 
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Crab Compatibility? 2/7/06
Hello WWM:
<Frank>
You have been instrumental so far in the health and upkeep of my tank
and I'm hoping to take advantage of your services one more time. I have
had a decorator crab for about 2 months, I think its great and one
of the most interesting members of my little community. As an invert
fanatic, I was also interested in the Hawaiian Strawberry Crab (the
site does not provide the scientific name so here is a link to the site
if it helps
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/product_info.php?products_id=415&parent_category=4&category
search=63&root_parent_id=4).
I know that crabs especially tend to be
creatures of opportunity and was wondering how likely these two would be
to attack one another.
Sincerely,
Frank
<Mmm, looks like
Liomera rugata... a Xanthid... is opportunistic, though small... will
"pick" if hungry, there's opportunities. Bob Fenner>
Crab & Coral ID - 1/6/06
I love your web site - have
used it many times over the past year, started my first reef
tank Jan. 2005 - found answers to many of my questions.
However
my 45 gal. reef tank has some occupants that I have been unable to
id. Two of them are some type of corals - hope you can id them from
the enclosed photos. (Small corals in the center of the photos)
Both of them are about a 1/2 inch wide. The last is a small
crab, about 3/4 of an inch. What kind is it? Do I need to remove
it?
Thanks
Jeffrey Baxter
<Only the crab pic is coming
through for me... and don't know what species this is... but would
keep an eye on it... likely is more omnivorous than you'd like to
have. Bob Fenner> | 
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Help identifying crab please 12/13/05
Could you please help
me identify this crab? I have tried posting a description and
pictures on many chat forums with no luck. The width of the body is
2 inches. It is a very STRONG swimmer and it seems to swim more then
crawl.
<Yes... does appear to be a Portunid (family Portunidae...
"Swimming Crab" species>
The ends on all of its legs are flattened,
and the claws are very under sized as far as crabs go. It is
non-aggressive.
When picked up it will just try to swim away never
brandishing its claws in defense. It spends most of its time buried
in the sand with only its eyes visible. When not hiding, he seems to
sift through the sand while moving in a backwards motion. He has
not been active during daylight hours.
<Don't know the species,
but would just keep an eye on this one for size/growth and possible
troubles as time goes by. Bob Fenner> |  
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A Crab Story for Mr. Fenner (Just in Time for Christmas!) - 12/07/2005
I cannot begin to tell you how much I have learned from your web site
and thought you might enjoy ( or offer some tips) about my new visitor.
<Bob is currently out on another adventure, so you've got Josh today.>
Approx 2 months ago I purchased some live sand and along with it a small
rock which I thought I would remove. I did not know it was home to a
little crab until I saw him crawling away. Back in the tank I put crab &
rock. I would see the crab but not often until one day some weeks later
there he was in the open, on his back. (not a good sign). Since I know
my water quality is fine I got to thinking he might be starving because
I am very careful about overfeeding & siphon out debris on a regular
basis.
<Very good.>
Long story short... I flipped him over and
gave him a Mysis shrimp which he grabbed with his claw (good sign!) Next
day (I thought I would find him dead) there he was right side up and
more active. I built him a little 'cave' where I could watch & feed him.
Today he was hiding out in his new home and appears to be doing well. I
am amazed how he blends into the environment.. unless he moves you would
not know he was there! I am thrilled to help this little guy survive.
<Wonderful.>
WILL HE GROW UP & EAT MY FISH? :>
<Well Carol, that's
really hard to say without an ID of this crab. Perhaps if you send a
pic. along we may be able to help you there. As always, keen observation
will also help you determine its "preferences". IMO it's already got two
strikes against it. It has taken meaty foods and has the ability to
blend with the environment to go unseen (great for hunting). Do attempt
a definite ID before making a decision though.>
Thanks for helping
through many a crisis
<Thank you for sharing.>
Carol
<Josh> 
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Hairy Crab 12/02/05
Hello All!
<<Hello Bryant - Ted here>>
I was dipping a load of corals I got today and found this little
crab which I am hoping you can give me a positive ID on. I think it
is a form of a Gorilla Crab (Xanthid sp.) but I am not 100% sure. I
have also done a search and looked through the crab ID pages but
didn't find one like this him. I am trying to keep him alive in a
bowl until I can get a positive ID on him so I am hoping you can
help. I would think he is probably a meat eater with those pointed
claws and I don't want him if he is but I thought I would offer him
to someone else if I can ID him. Also, here is a link to a
picture of him on my website which might show up larger if you need
it:
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL585/2341993/8697143/120598951.jpg
I can also try to make a better picture if this one is not clear
enough but I made this one in a hurry today because I was trying to
get corals in the tank.
<<While crabs are interesting and some
have beautiful coloring, they are all predators to some degree. I
can't provide the specific identification but judging by the size of
the claws in relation to the overall size of the crab, this is one I
would remove him from your system.>>
Thanks and Take Care!
Bryant
<<You're welcome and good luck - Ted>> |
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Crab Hitchhiker 11/14/05
Hello Mr. Fenner,
<<Ted with you
this evening>>
I was hoping you could identify this crab I found
today. Is it reef safe or refugium safe?
<<It is difficult to
identify by species. It is likely a predator and will kill snails
and other invertebrates and so is not suitable for tank or
refugium.>>
Thanks
Ben Hustwayte
<<You're welcome and good
luck - Ted>> |
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