Found unknown hitchhicker (1 Viewer)

[NANAReef]

Just discoverd, a hitchhicker today on my LR. I dont know how its been avioding me for so long.. Anyway Its a small (about the size of a dime) reddish/orange crab, it has black tips on its claws, amd a rather smooth shell.. My concern is, is this guy reef safe? I tried to get him out of the tank to study him, and found he has a incredible grip!. I prodded him with a toothpick, which he took hold of and would not let go. I pulled hard enough that I figured I would rip his legs or claw off, yet he held on.. I dont mind him in there so long as he wont harm my fish/coral..

Anyone have the slightest idea what kind of crab I am talking about???

 

[Guest]

Just keep it in your tank it will grow into one of these guys.

This grew from a hitch hiker like yours. The guy that had it fed the crab two jumbo shrimps a day and it was 3.5 lbs when it died. You won't have to worry about feeding your crab when it gets big because it will have plenty of your fish to graze on.

If I were you I would skewer the sucker with an ice pick next time you see it.

Black tips on a crab in my opinion means it will grow in to a serial fish killer.

Tom

 

[HolyBanana]

Tom you got some type of fixation with that crab.

 

[Guest]

How come that last post makes me hungry?

 

[FireEater]

Yep, that's a rock crab. I have one in my refugium.

Just break off a claw to eat and he will grow a new one.

Mark

 

[Guest]

Because red rock crabis good eat'n!

If you have a sump just go a head and throw him in there, then when he does get that big you'll have a crab dinner some night.

 

[NANAReef]

Well I have a very large pipe organ skeleton.. Its a maze of tunnels. And when he left the LR, he went strait for it. I dont think I will see him for awhile.

But thats him. And thank you guys for your help..

 

[Guest]

Tom you got some type of fixation with that crab.

I like to post it every time because it is a reminder of what little things can grow into.

That sucker got to 3.5 lbs; that's freaking huge.

Also if you think I have a fixiation on the crab its because the same questions get asked again and again I try to answer them in a different way each time but still using the picture of my favorite hitch hiker.

 

[texasreefer]

I used to have one in a 10G sump that I just let go at the collecting trip in Texas City. It used to eat shrimp out of my hand though you had to be careful because it would grab you if you didn't pay attention to it.

 

[incysor]

I had one in a great piece of LR that was covered in mushrooms that I bought from the LFS. I left it alone for a couple months, then it ate one of my cleaner shrimp, then one of my peppermint shrimp all in one week. When I originally saw him I looked it up on reef central. I believe they're called gorilla crabs. After it started eating critters, I decided I better get him while I knew which hole he hid in. I took the rock out of the tank, put it in a bucket, and filled a syringe with isopropyl rubbing alcohol. I squirted the alcohol in the hole, and it croaked, I dug out the remains with a pair of forceps, and rinsed the rock off with RO water, then put it back.

Brian

 

[HolyBanana]

awe tom admit it. You love that crab.

 

[AggieBrandon]

Tom loves crabs?

 

[HolyBanana]

Actually to get crabs, you actually have to be active.

 

[pernelf]

guess we can assume then that Tom doesn't have crabs 8O

 

[NANAReef]

Well I caught the little guy. He was dumb enough to go back into the same rock I found him on in the first place.. Anyone going to the Meet tommorow who wants the little devil can have him.. If not hes worm food

 

[Guest]

I have crabs but the crabs that I have are reef safe.

Now Jaime's crabs are a totally different story; they aren't reef safe and last I heard they weren't under control.