Crab ID Help

[Cristi]

This little guy hitchhiked in on some live rock. Anyone know what kind of crab it is? Is it a danger to anything? It has started to come out at feeding time so I am giving it some Formula 1 to keep it happy and satisfied and hopefully keep it out of trouble.
Cristi

 

[dc]

I don't know their actual name, but yes it's bad, and will kill snails and anything else it can catch.

 

[greenbean36191]

It's a stone crab. These things are super destructive.

 

[Cristi]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I will have to set a trap for him.
Cristi

 

[LeslieH]

Hey Mike, if by stone crab you mean Menippe, well it isn't. On the other hand if you mean a xanthid that looks like a stone you're right. You're also spot on about it being destructive.

 

[dc]

I set up a tank for mine, and then ended trading him to some guy that wanted him for a coral.
Rocky:

 

[greenbean36191]

Hey Mike, if by stone crab you mean Menippe, well it isn't. On the other hand if you mean a xanthid that looks like a stone you're right.

You know, I never really thought about it long enough to think that "stone crab" had any real taxonomic meaning. Down here we just use it for any grab with a squat body and relavitely plump claws.... Of course in this area, that probably is usually Menippe. I guess that's kind of like people calling all sorts of crabs (calappids and xanthids) "shame faced crabs." Down on the gulf, if you say that name, everyone knows you're talking about Hepatus.

 

[MoCha920]

it looks like a gorilla crab those eats corals esp. the sps family i would fry it and feed it to my dogs

 

[Cristi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8524243#post8524243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MoCha920
it looks like a gorilla crab those eats corals esp. the sps family i would fry it and feed it to my dogs

I thought gorilla crabs had hair on them. This one was smooth. In any case, I captured him along with another hitchhiker crab and they now both reside at the LFS.
Cristi

 

[LeslieH]

Hi Deb -- do you know where yours came from? It's bothering me that I haven't been able to put on name on the species yet.

 

[LeslieH]

Hi Deb -- do you know where yours came from? It's bothering me that I haven't been able to put on name on the species yet.