Hitchhikers - Should I Oust?

[mattbond]

hey guys,

not long set up my 95 litre reef tank, and ive noticed one or two little crabs have hitchhiked onto the live rock
the body/bodies are about 3-5mm across at the moment, are a browny - sandy colour, the legs appear to be furry as well, they dont seem to be doing anything other than picking at the algae thats growing on the rock, any ideas?

 

[simonas]

I have a crab in my tank thats never caused any problems and he adds interest in the tank
I iknow that some pepole don;t like them
Maybe get a pic up and see if they can be identified

 

[-Nemo-]

It is rare to have a "good" hitchhiker crab. But yes, post pics.

 

[PaBucsFan]

The description makes it sound like an emerald crab. What type of LR is it or what is the origin of the LR? Emerald Crabs are native to the Caribbean. Please post pictures!

 

[mattbond]

I dont think it's an emerald crab, we get them in at work as a form of algae control, this/these little guys just pick at the live rock and they look brown and furrry legged. dont decorator crabs look like this?

 

[Kirsty5]

Generally, the rule for crabs is the pincers:

spoon shaped = algae eaters

sharp, pointed ends = otherwise

Any photos?

if he is unwanted, please ask your LFS to put him in their sump, I love crabs!

 

[mattbond]

 

[kj23502]

if it's hairy, it's scary!