Crab ID please!

[tedmonds]

Hitchiker, I believe came in on Florida live rock.

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[LeslieH]

It looks like a Mithrax but a shot from above showing the whole body is what's needed here. The images on our page here shows the sort of image that's used for id.
http://www.nhm.org/guana/bvi-invt/bvi-surv/crab-g03.htm

 

[acidlittle]

i don't think it's a mithrax as it doesn't appear to have the "furry" legs that the emerald or mithrax's have. Just what I can see!

 

[tedmonds]

He definately doesn't have hairy legs and I haven't been able to catch him again to get a top down picture. I'm working on it.

 

[LeslieH]

Not all Mithrax have hairy legs. See http://www.nhm.org/guana/bvi-invt/bvi-surv/images/crab-i03/80x08.htm

Still, there's no way to know without another pic. Good luck!

 

[tedmonds]

Finally was able to catch this bugger again. Here's a top down pic.

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[LeslieH]

Thanks! It does seem to be a Mithrax. Many reefers like having these around as they eat algae and are about as harmless as a non-filter feeding crab can be.