Im currently looking for my camera so I can show you all,but im really in a rush to find out what it is. I have this crab in my tank its boxed shaped red with a b lue bottom, it doesn't have big claws just 8 lil ones! its eyes pop out way from it head. it not an hermit,it doenst host a shell! im confused,and i apoligize if im confusing any of you, im just too curious.ill try to get a picture up asap!
A Different Crab?Not sure what I have!
- Thread starter VAHeatt
- Start date
Snail-po
New member
Well i really cant be certain from a description alone, but the red shell with a blue underside reminds me of fiddler crabs, that would also coincide with what you said the eyes were like. If that is the case it will likely die. Also did i read this incorrectly, or did you say it had...8... little claws???
i was wrong it has 10 lil claws, hard to tell because it has lost 2 claws. if its a fiddler crab why wont it last. im havin problems downloadin my cd for my camera so i can show a photo. i feel like a jackass for not being much help. thanks alot snail-po for the lil info so far.
Mustang Boy
New member
do you have any pics of it because it sounds like a very interesting crab and i would love to see what it looks like
it is a fiddler. sold as a red reef crab in reef stores. i don't know if they can actually last in a reef tank or not. just don't give them a basking area or they will dry up and die. some kinds of fiddlers supposedly can live in full saltwater. dunno if this is true or not. i have never had confirmation of anyone keeping these successfully.
heres a link to a picture of the crab here. http://atlanticreefstore.com/store1/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=925
Bongo Shrimp
P. ceratophthalma
That's a fiddler crab.
Mustang Boy
New member
most fiddlers need to be able to come up for oxygen and some are brackish but they can survive for a period of time in full SW before dieing things like this
He's a cute little guy! Are you positive he is the same species as the crab in the photo? You did say he is "box shaped" though, and thats a big hint- But, if it IS the crab in the photo, I have to tell you: As others have said he is a fiddler crab. These "burrowing crabs" are not common in reef stores because they make said burrows on the BEACH, so obviously they won't survive long without access to a beach. They scavenge beaches, mud flats, estuaries, etc. Again to repeat other's statements, they cannot tolerate the full strength saltwater in a reef tank for very long. So I'm really sorry to say it but if you want him to survive for more than a few weeks or months you will have to find him another home or build another aquarium set-up specifically for this crab. If you still don't believe me and think he will survive in a reef tank-just do an internet search , or check out this link:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/swcrabidfaqs.htm
He could probably live a few months in your tank, but not the full normal lifespan. Hope whatever you do works out and he lives
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/swcrabidfaqs.htm
He could probably live a few months in your tank, but not the full normal lifespan. Hope whatever you do works out and he lives
xpectnomercy
Member
I owned 2 of those red burrowing crabs and they didnt last long. They were always trying to climb the highest rocks so im assuming they need to break the surface in order to survive.
