crab help

[jhouse]

i went to petco tonight and bought one of their small live rocks and when i got home as it was sitting in the bowl getting ready to go into the tank i noticed a small whitish colored crab in side the rock i cant get a good look all i can see is he is white and about the size of a dime any ideas what to feed and what kind he maybe thanks for any help Jessica

 

[fatrip]

Well it will eat one of 2 things meat that you would feed the fish or algea which will be around the tank. You won't need to do anything more to the tank than what you are now. It sounds like it could be a porcelain crab. But could be an undernourished emerald crab, I have seen those turn white before with lack of food. Either way you are fine if it is just white, but if it is really hairy then I would ditch it if you want to have corals in the tank, most hairy crabs will eat corals. Also the "rule" if you want to call ti that is that if the crab has the same size claws it is good if there is a big and small claw than chuck it if you plan on a reef tank at any point.

 

[jhouse]

i got a some what better look it looks like it has small brown spots on its legs it is not hairy i cant get it to come out of the rock or i would just take a pic

 

[jhouse]

ok i was bad i cracked the back half of the rock off got the crab out he is smaller then a dime front half is brownish back half is whitish and he is now burrowing in the sand uploading pic soon

 

[jhouse]

 

[Dave VG]

Looks like an emerald crab (Mithrax sculptus). They are a good guy. They are an omnivore and will feed on uneaten meaty foods and some types of nuisance algae. Very nice hichhiker congrats.

 

[jhouse]

i was thinking after i posted the pics last night that it maybe a very young emerald crab but wasnt sure if they could be brown and white he is so little and i think it cool i bought a rock and got a crab for free lol thank you so much for your help

 

[LUCKYLATO]

nice