|
Home | Marine Aquariums |
Freshwater Aquariums |
Planted Aquariums |
Brackish Systems |
Ponds,
lakes & fountains |
Turtles & Amphibians |
Aquatic Business |
Aquatic Science |
Ask the WWM Crew a Question |
Please visit our Sponsors | ||||
Mystery Crab (Again) - 09/01/2005 Hi Sabrina! First off, sorry to you and Charlotte for confusing you! <Oh, no worries!> Here are two pics of my crab when he was in my 5g. Hope they help! <Mm, some, yes.... I still think this is an Uca (fiddler), and it *might* be Uca ecuadoriensis.... though I'm by no means certain. A very cool little invert; thank you very much for letting us see the images!> Alex <Wishing you well, -Sabrina><<Am moving this to the marine section, since fiddlers are marine....-SCF>> Crabby Hitchhiker 7/6/05 Hi Guys <Lesley> I set up a second, small marine tank last year and it is running well. I got some more live rock a few months ago which had a crab in it, which we couldn't remove so I took the crab with the rock. We've been trying to spot it ever since to identify it. It's very shy and hides under the live rock. <Typical> It hasn't caused any problems in the tank (i.e. no missing fish or shrimps!) but I did get a good look at it for a second or two before it ran for cover, for the first time this weekend. It's very beautiful. The closest ID I can come up with is a harlequin crab as it looks reasonably similar to the picture on your website. However, the "patchwork" pattern on its shell is made up of various pinks and reds and whites not just two colours. It's about and inch in size, including legs, at the moment. Could it still be some sort of harlequin crab? <Yes> It seems to have an appetite for small Triffid anemones as it had one in it's claw when I spotted it, so it's earning its keep! I assume it's also eating whatever we feed the other occupants with but does it have any special dietary requirements? <Likely picking up what it needs from your live rock, substrate> Also, if it is not a harlequin crab and you can identify it from my vague description, can you guess at what type of crab it is and what its requirements are? <No my friend> As it is so beautiful, and apparently useful, I'd like to keep it if it's not going to pose a problem needs food I cannot provide it with. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this and thanks again for your help! <Do enjoy this life, keep trying to make a photo... Bob Fenner> Unwanted Crab Hello, I just recently discovered a crab in my tank. He won't come out, only his little black claws is all I can see. I just recently put in some coral from Florida and he must have come in on it. I can't really describe him but I am worried that he may hurt my corals and/or fish. I have feather dusters, brown polyps and green center polyps. I have two ocellaris, one damsel and one coral beauty. Is he something I should get out of my tank? <Without seeing a pic of it, I'd have no way of knowing whether the crab you have would destroy anything. James (Salty Dog)> A/the west coast crab? I am a graphic designer and one of my clients wants me to draw a "West Coast Crab". The only thing that I can find on the internet on this type of crab is recipes. Not going to work... <What species is this?> Do you have a picture or drawing of a "West Coast Crab"? They were very specific about this type in particular. <Have no idea... there are several species of crabs that might be termed "west coast"> Thanks for any help you could be. Karen Anderson <Maybe ask your customer to look on the Net, identify what they want to species... Bob Fenner>
Red Mithrax crabs Hi, I wanted to know a little bit more about red Mithrax crabs or some times called ruby crabs. I cannot find any info about them. << In my opinion they are just like green Mithrax crabs, only harder to find. >> I saw someone on eBay selling them for a good price. They look exactly like the emerald crabs but red instead. I have had emerald crabs in the past that died. Also, does anyone know how big they can get? << I'll say about two inches across. They eat algae, and lots of it. >> I have been told that they eat algae is that true? I really like the way they look and I think they would be a great addition to my tank. << They are awesome tank mates, but do eat algae... maybe too much algae. >> Thanks, Mo << Blundell >>
Looking for key to Persian Decapods dear professor I'm study about fresh water crabs of Iran I need a key for identification pls help me faculty of science Tehran university Iran <Mmm, would have to research if there is such a reference in a college library. Not sure you're familiar with such bibliographic searches. Please see here re: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/litsrchart.htm Do you have access to BIOSIS on the internet? The Zoological Record? I would start with their databases. Bob Fenner> Stocking/id questions Hi WWM <cheers> question on stocking. I have a 50gal FOWLR, and a few polyps. presently I have 2 Percula clowns, a bicolor blenny, 2 peppermint shrimp, an emerald crab, various snails and hermits. I want to add 2 Firefish, a cleaner shrimp and a few more snails. do you see any problems with this? <seems reasonable... some chance with Firefish aggression to each other> the Firefish will be mail ordered, should they be put into a quarantine tank, or just give them a fresh water dip to avoid the stress of moving from 1 tank to another? <all fish should be quarantined without exception and Firefish really should be purchased locally if possible. They are notorious bad shippers> on another subject (thanks for your patience) I have finally caught my hitchhiker crab. attached is a picture. any idea what it is? is it safe or should I remove it? also attached is a picture of hitchhiker snail. looks like a whelk to me, should it be removed?? the actual snail is a light green colour. Thanks Barry <Barry and all WetWebMedia friends... please send any such pictures scaled down to a smaller 'Net sized image and never zipped (problems here). It absolutely crushes our mailbox with the amount of mail sent. Please resend my friend. Anthony>
Crab Hitchhiker Crew: I have discovered what appears to be a Mithraculus crab in the Indonesian LR in my refugium. Should I be concerned about negative effects? Because of the layout of my system, any attempt to remove it will almost certainly kill it. Thanks, Steve Allen. <If it is truly a Mithrax crab no problem, esp. in a refugium. Craig> Re: unidentified crab sans QT 2/26/03 Thank you for your
help...I know that quarantining for the rock is a necessary thing for
the health of our tank...and we have been a bit lax in doing it lately
(hanging head in shame.. G), as over a period of 2 years (and several
QT periods) we have had no problems with live rock from this shop (our
tank has thrived and grown tremendously)...however, that being
said...that is no excuse for not being more careful... <all correct
my friend> thank you for the reminder that just because we have not
had problems so far...doesn't mean that we couldn't have
problems in the future. <I must admit that I
learned my QT lesson the hard way too <G>> As far as the crab
holding his claws in front of his face...we have seen no evidence of
that. <perhaps not Calappa then... rather
conspicuous> He (or she) seems to keep them either tucked to the
side or slightly out and down of the body. I got a really
great look at it's back last night (o.k. it was a 2 AM peek at the
tank.. G) and it's back was not as smooth as we had
thought...it's very slightly bumpy...and it's body
is squarish in shape as well. I will send in a
pic when I can get one (looks like another 2 am tank peek...LOL) and
send it to you. <indeed the best way for us to
help ID for you> We did notice one thing that may or may not
help...around where it was at...was a bunch of what appeared to be
algae in little balls around it. Also...I might not have
been to clear. but it's back legs are hairy. but
it's pinchers are smooth....if that makes a difference.
<unfortunately not... a couple hundred
possibilities/species> Thank you for answering my e-mail...and I
must agree with what a lot of people have wrote about you guys. you are
awesome!!! <thanks kindly! It really is a labor of love> Thanks
again! Will start re-searching the shame faced crab today.
Lee
Crab Id please? Hey Crew.. I think I've found the
clicking source from my tank. <nope... but I'm glad to hear your
optimism :) You still will hear the clicking. Quite likely a small
pistol shrimp from the live rock or sand> Think this is it?
<Nope> Some kind of crab? <yep... this image shows a
Mithraculus (AKA Mithrax or Emerald Green crab). They are good algae
grazers but dubiously reef safe in the long run> Thank you!
Crab ID and trapping I just got an id on a crab that hitchhiked on my LR from Tampa Bay SW, Gorilla Crab. I can't find anything on this site, virtually nothing on the web. <that's because somebody made up that common name, bud... and there are no popular references to it commonly.> Do any of you know the scientific name of this brute? <you'll need to send us a photo, my friend. Something more than a common name> I know he's a bad guy and I want to get him out of my main tank, <exactly> but I'm having a hell of a time catching him. Thanks, Mike <try leaning a small glass jar (like for pickles) in the aquarium against the rockwork with weighted meaty bait in the bottom. The crab will scurry down into the jar for the food at night but to be able to scurry back up the slick glass. Best regards, Anthony> Crab ID Hi guys, I have an ID problem with a true crab. I’d love to send you a picture but I can’t. This guy is about 3/4" across the carapace, very hairy/bristly, coloration seems to be purple and white especially on his legs, banded in these colors. He is a hitchhiker on my FL Keys LR. I have several other crabs, all much smaller (half that size for the biggest) which appear to be of the "Sally Lightfoot" variety, although I’m not convinced that this ID is accurate either. Anyway, as for the big hairy guy, his claws are disproportionate with the left being dominant. His claws look just like the Stone Crab claws, which you may have eaten. (I may grow this crab to maturity just to harvest a claw. :) I plan to eventually have a couple of seahorses in this tank. Is he (he IS a he) safe for my horses (4"-5") or should I remove him to my refugium to fight it out with the Mantis Shrimp (also a hitchhiker) that lives there? <I would remove.> BTW, all have of my crabs have molted since I've had them, 2 months. I'm assuming that's a good thing. <It means they are growing.> Any idea on the ID? <No, but better to be safe than sorry.> Sorry, I know it’s vague. All these crabs seem to be algae eaters; but I know that all crabs are opportunists. <Yes, very opportunistic and seahorses are slow and would be easy prey.> Thanks, Mike <You are welcome. -Steven Pro> Crab identification Greetings Bob, A follow up to a previous email you answered regarding a stowaway on a piece of LR I recently purchased: here are 3 of the best pics I could get...he is a shy one. The next pic shows the yellow tips and "hairy" legs, claws are the same left and right neither is larger than the other). you can get a decent idea of them from the picture above. a correction to my last email, the tank has been up for 2 months but the crab arrived with a 29lbs chunk of LR 2 weeks ago. As far as I can tell he only seems to be eating detritus from the sand, but I haven't been able to observe him with the lights off. Any help in identification would be greatly appreciated! <the crab cannot be identified by species but the photo clearly depicts this specimens large crushing and hooked claws (in contrast to small pinching/algae cropping claws). As they say... "Form Follows Function". This crab is clearly an omnivore leaning toward predator with the hooked claws. It may behave for 10 days or 10 months... but rest assured that it will attack something desirable in time in the confines of an aquarium. Do remove (to sump, QT, refugium, or elsewhere)> one more thing, in the first picture you can see a discoloration on the anal fin of the Flame Angel. It is actually a clear spot on the fin about 1.5mm in size...almost completely transparent. The Angel has been in the tank 2 weeks, with 2 weeks in a Q tank before that and seems very happy. Any clue to what this may be? <no clue from the photo but does not yet sound pathogenic. Feed well and observe for changes> Thank you very much, Emerson <best regards, Anthony>
|
|
Features: |
|
Featured Sponsors: |