Emerald Crab?

[oh207]

I have this crab in my tank which I believe to be an emerald crab. Its not green like the typical emerald crabs. It has more of a light brown or pink coloration.
I've seen it eat a longnose hawk. The hawk was new to the tank and was only in there for 1-week. I never saw it eat, so its likely the crab is not guilty of any crime. Nevertheless, this guy is HUGE and I'm getting very worried because a few nights ago I saw him tormenting my 2 Chromis and clown goby who all sleeps in a giant birdsnest. He was on top of the birds next colony trying to grab at them.

BTW, I tried to grab him with an Ehiem tong but he held onto a piece of rock, and I swear I was able to lift the rock with him holding onto it (rock is at least 5lbs.) He lost an arm with this attempt, so now he runs away when he sees me approaching the tank.

See videos below. Any identification or recommendation would be appreciated. In the first video he appeared to be a model citizen, eating GHA. But thats the first time I saw him do that. That GHA has been like that for several weeks.

Video 1


Video 2

 

[donut0079]

That looks like a red Mithrax crab which is very similar to an emerald. I think you are right about the hawk because they normally don't go after healthy fish. They are borderline reef safe though. My emerald got banned from the tank after trying to make a meal of my duncan coral.

 

[oh207]

That looks like a red Mithrax crab which is very similar to an emerald. I think you are right about the hawk because they normally don't go after healthy fish. They are borderline reef safe though. My emerald got banned from the tank after trying to make a meal of my duncan coral.

Thanks for the ID. I googled images of Mithrax crab and it looks exactly the same. I will continue to try and capture it.

 

[FishAndAquatics]

Why remove the crab? They're, for the most part, reef safe. Just keep it fed and it'll be fine

 

[Shawn O]

Couldn't that be a Strawberry crab? Or is that the same as a Red Mithrax?

 

[donut0079]

Strawberry crabs don't have flat end to their claws like are shown in the video.

 

[donut0079]

I don't know how much feeding has to do with it. Some Mithrax crabs just seem to ignore corals and others go after everything. I think it's just an individual thing. If you have one that ignores other inverts and corals they are nice to have for bubble algae control but if you add one you have to be prepared to possibly remove it down the road.

 

[sixpackgarage]

yikes, what a monster! Get him out.. he belongs in a sump

 

[oh207]

Couldn't that be a Strawberry crab? Or is that the same as a Red Mithrax?

After Googling images I'm pretty sure its a mytrax crab.

Why remove the crab? They're, for the most part, reef safe. Just keep it fed and it'll be fine

He gives me the hibeey-gibbeys. So he gotta go.

I don't know how much feeding has to do with it. Some Mithrax crabs just seem to ignore corals and others go after everything. I think it's just an individual thing. If you have one that ignores other inverts and corals they are nice to have for bubble algae control but if you add one you have to be prepared to possibly remove it down the road.

I got this guy from Reefs-to-Go about 2 years ago. Since then I've purchased the regular green emerald crabs to control bubble algae. I haven't seen any bubble algae for a long time.

yikes, what a monster! Get him out.. he belongs in a sump

I feel that he has gotten too big for my tank so I captured it and its in the sump in a water bottle until this weekend. I will give it to my cousin.