Cool Crabs (w/ pictures)

[reefnewbie54321]

I am a big invert guy and actually got into the hobby more for the inverts then anything else. I plan on stocking a few of my favorite crabs and was wondering if anyone has pictures or names of some cool crabs I'm missing out on. If you have kept any of the carbs listed below please share your experiences as well.

Staghorn Hermit

This is a really cool crab but I don't think I will end up getting it because its staghorn shell will most likely get stung by my multiple anemones.

Arrow Crab

Another cool crab that wont make it to my tank ... It just gets to big and I have heard some horror stories.

Xenia Crab

These are one of my favorite ... although hard to spot in the tank they are still cool. If I don't end up with any hitchhiker crabs I plan on posting in the WTB to get a few to host my multiple xenia patches.

White Porcelain Crab

This crab looks much better then the regular porcelain crab and will host my anemones. Definitely going in my tank.

Pom Pom Crab

I would say this is my all time favorite crab and even though you rarely see them when you do its quiet a sight. I plan on getting at least 2 of these.

Teddy Bear Crab

Although is has a very bad rep I love Teddy Bear crabs. I think it is a myth that they are pests (this was also discussed in an RK magazine about aquarium myths) I am not 100% sure if I will add one but if it comes as a hitchhiker I wouldn't remove it.

I also plan on getting a few different hermits and give them some cool deco shells I bought online to see if they will switch. Any suggestions on the more timid of hermit crabs would be helpful.

NOTE: None of these crabs are being added as part of a cleanup crew and will be target feed via sinking pellets.

 

[wwildcats04]

I have kept the staghorn, but it got killed... the crab was awesome though and I still have the coral "shell" living in my tank, the pom pom and porcelain crab I have now and love both of them, I also have an emerald crab and like it a lot too

 

[reefnewbie54321]

Forgot the emerald crab ... I always throw a few in my tank even though some can end up being pests.

I really would like a staghorn crab but I know its not worth the risk considering I plan on adding a RBTA, GBTA and a Tube Anemone. The shell would most likely get stug and die cuasing the crab to di with it (from my understanding)

 

[akbuuur]

id show you my crabs but that would be "unapropriate"


:-o


jk

 

[reefnewbie54321]

Nobody wants to talk about crabs with me??

 

[dodgersfan25]

cant say that ive kept any of them, but they sure look cool!

i like the teddy bear one, ive never seen that

 

[PRESTO2345]

Xenia Crab looks kewl!!!!

 

[chocolateblnt]

I just got this guy ... he's making quite a commotion in the "Other Invertebrates" forum

 

[04mach1]

I had a Hawiann Strawbery for a long time.

 

[ClamIAm]

My personal favorite is the zebra urchin crab.

Unfortunately I can't seem to find out what they eat and thus don't know if I should get one. All I can figure out is they are usually found in fire urchins but will host in others.

I also like this one, but I don't have the slightest idea how I'd get one without randomly finding it in a coral:

 

[reefnewbie54321]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7807616#post7807616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ClamIAm
My personal favorite is the zebra urchin crab.

Unfortunately I can't seem to find out what they eat and thus don't know if I should get one. All I can figure out is they are usually found in fire urchins but will host in others.

I also like this one, but I don't have the slightest idea how I'd get one without randomly finding it in a coral:

Where would you buy one if you knew what it ate? It must be really small to host in an urchin.

 

[Rijinals]

Pom pom crab / boxing crab are one of the coolest crabs ever!!

 

[Broog]

I got lucky and recieved both a pom pom crab and a porcelain crab as hitchikers. Both are very neat additions. dont see the pom pom a whole lot, although did see him this morning before I left. But they are unique and actually have very cool coloring. That Xenia crab is very neat as well. Once my tanks gets established more I would like to get an anemone to host the crab. I have always found the inverts to be the most interesting creatures in a reef tank.

 

[reefnewbie54321]

All I got for a hitchhiker was majanos

 

[The Reefer91]

i heard that pom pom crabs aren't reef safe? are they a threat to anything? i would like to get a unique crab for my 10g, and was looking at this.

 

[Broog]

Well this is my first experience with a pom pom crab, but after recieving it as a hitchiker, i started reading on them. As far as I have read they are reef safe and use the two anemone's to mop up detritus, although they dont have to have the anemone's in there claws to survive. But someone else may have a different opinion. Porcelain crab would also make a good nano tank addition, they are basically filter-feeders. (on a side note, I have fed both my porcelain and pom pom crab some scallop)

 

[jakaufman]

heres my arrow crab

water is still cloudy in that shot but he was posing on the top of my LR

 

[FishNutzBoi]

Im also interested in the Anemone crabs. reefnewbie, if u ever gets one, can you PM me how he does in ur tank?

 

[The Reefer91]

Jakeufman, don't arrow crabs eat soft corals? i would get one, but i heard they eat corals, snails, small crabs and fish.

 

[Twisted]

Nobody mentioned Horseshoe crab. They may not be the best addition, but they are diffrent, and although my tank is lacking in everything right now reef wise, he has yet to move or hurt anything.