Hitchhiker Crab

fishinessex · Feb 24, 2008

Hi,

I spotted a hitchhiker crab tonight. He has probably been there for about a month, but tonight was the first time I saw him. The picture isn't very good....he is shaped kind of like my emerald crab but the face looks more like a hermit crab. He stayed in the dark so I couldn't really see his eyes. His color looks almost purple.

Any ideas

? I hope I don't have to take out my LR...I put it in directly on the glass before I put in the sand. :angry:

I'll keep an eye out and try to get a better picture.

@ombomb · Feb 24, 2008

i would try and catch it, even if for the purposed of IDing, i have very little trust for crabs

fishinessex · Feb 24, 2008

About 15 min ago, I put in a "trap" next to where he is hiding out and turned the lights off. Trap is a shot glass with mysis shrimp at the bottom. I covered it in plastic wrap and cut a slit in it......otherwise the peppermint shrimp would have eaten the bait in a second. Now it's sit and wait time....
I agree with you...at first I wasn't sure if I even wanted to get an Emerald Crab...

nanocubeking · Feb 24, 2008

Play the waiting game!

Looks like a porcelain crab. cant tell for sure.

SkiFletch · Feb 24, 2008

@ombomb said:
i would try and catch it, even if for the purposed of IDing, i have very little trust for crabs

Completely agree

fishinessex · Feb 25, 2008

Well, I caught something last night......but it was only one of my hermit crabs! :angry:

The waiting game continues.
I did spot him again last night, but he was too fast for me to get another pic.
It looks like his body is flat and gray, with red legs? Didn't look hairy either.

fishinessex · Feb 25, 2008

Finally got some good pictures!!!

I think it is a Porcelain Crab......he has maxillipeds in front which I saw him waving around trying to catch food. You can see one of my Peppermint Shrimp checking things out. Do you think it is a Porcelain Crab...and if so, is it a keeper???

Here is a closeup:

fishinessex · Feb 25, 2008

And another.....

SkiFletch · Feb 25, 2008

Heh, this is the problem with crabs. Unless it's a really common one (and that one doesn't look too common to me

) its almost impossible to tell whether they're safe or not. At that current size he probably poses little threat, but who knows when he grows up? It's a calculated risk to leave him in there...

rhysiboy · Feb 25, 2008

you lucky £($)% lol, thats a porcelin crab, one of the more colourful varities, i paid £15 for mine so your lucky.

fishinessex · Feb 25, 2008

Hmmm.....so I guess I should assume it's a porcelain crab?? If it is....I guess I am lucky rhysiboy

If it's not....... :angry:

Since he sweeps for plankton and doesn't use his claws, that I have seen....my hunch is that he's reef safe.....hmmmmm

@ombomb · Feb 25, 2008

just keep an eye on him, no crab is 100% safe, even emerald crabs IME

nanocubeking · Feb 25, 2008

Yup you are lucky. Thats a nice porcelain crab too. They are pretty expensive.

fishinessex · Feb 26, 2008

Thanks @ombomb/nanocubeking. Will keep an eye on him! I guess I'm lucky to get such a freebie.

He hides most of the time but comes out when I feed mysis shrimp.....and goes crazy sweeping for pieces......

nanocubeking · Feb 27, 2008

Completely reef safe too. It shouldnt turn. THey are pretty peaceful.

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