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, SW
Crab ID 16, SW Crab ID 17,
SW Crab ID 18,
SW Crab ID 19,
SW Crab ID 20,
SW Crab ID 21,
SW Crab ID
22,
& 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,
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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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