Crab ID please?

[Sarah D.]

My little tiny white crab has grown a lot in recent months. Any idea what it is? It doesn't resemble the juvenile blue crabs we have here at all. It hasn't killed anything in the tank as yet and doesn't seem all that aggresive at this point.

 

[TimTen]

not sure on the ID, but I love that first picture.

 

[sabodish]

almost looks like a rock crab to me, and the sharp claws are usually a bad sign. if it is a rock crab i would yank it out asap. i had one in my tank and was only able to catch it after it ate about 2000 zoanthids and 15 ricordia mushrooms.

 

[Paintbug]

looks like a Swimming crab, possibly a Portunus xantusii i couldnt tell you if they are reef safe or not.

its a female whatever kind of crab it is .

heres little more info on the Portunidae family:
http://www.wildsingapore.org/chekjawa/text/c321.htm

 

[Jesusfreak89]

I dont know what it is, but I can tell you what it will look like in a few years......tasty

 

[w00dw0rk3r]

definately something to remove asap!

 

[Sarah D.]

Swimming is right, it swims all over the tank! Really fun to watch. When I feed the fish it'll come zooming up from where ever it is to get fed. Wish I had a video camera to get some video of it for you.

And actually - the crab is far more interesting for my daughter to watch than corals - so I think I'll plan around it for now.

 

[msman825]

No offense But it looks like a Algea crab. Its growing on it looks like in the second pic. Maybe a porclean crab some sorts.

 

[Paintbug]

its a swimming crab! heres another pic of what it appears to be. Portunus xantusii
http://www.goldenstateimages.com/GSI_big.php?img=CRA-017

the only info on their diet is that they are scavengers, which means they will eat whatever they find tasty. that could be dead things or alive. keep you eye on it!

 

[Sarah D.]

That looks very close Paintbug! Thanks! I have to tell you, this crab is a hoot. I moved the tank yesterday so it was in a place where I could actually get to it to clean - and ever since it has been popping up hovering all over the tank. I swear it's trying to check out its new area.

It'll follow my daughters finger around the tank and come to the front to hang out if we're looking in.

Nothing boring about this crab!

 

[petoonia]

That sounds really cool!!! Throw in some cheaper mushrooms and see if it nibbles on them.

Good Luck!!!