Found the crab again! ID possible?

[Josh40996]

Hello fellow reefers.

A while back, I discovered that I had some uninvited guests in my reef that came in on some liverock. I could never get an ID on him and all we knew was that he liked to pinch frags... I even have a video oh him carrying one off on his back :hmm3:

Whilst doing a spot of midnight scouring of the reef, I found him dead and decided to get him out before anybody gets hungry and take a few snaps and try to finally get an ID on him.

The pictures arn't great since he was a bit of a stiff, but I guess they give a general idea...







Thanks!

 

[SEA-SALTED]

Gorilla crab? At least that what it looks like to me. Furry/fuzzy?

 

[Josh40996]

Im going to say yes, a Gorilla Crab. He was definatly spiky/furry and matched images of Gorilla crabs on google.

This is the seconds one I have pulled out, the first one was roughly the same size as this one but it was already being eaten by the CUC. He has taken more than his fair share of frags. The latest victim was a neon green muchroom...

 

[SEA-SALTED]

With no doubt, the name fits them.

 

[GerritM]

I found him dead

No, not dead.
It looks more like the molt from an Pilumnus sp.

 

[Josh40996]

No, not dead.
It looks more like the molt from an Pilumnus sp.

I don't think it was a molt because it was entirely entact and solid. Thank you.

 

[monkeypie102]

I don't think it was a molt because it was entirely entact and solid. Thank you.

My emerald crab molted and I swore he had died since it was completely solid but later found him under some live rock... So it's possible that your finding molts...

 

[Josh40996]

...

 

[Josh40996]

No, not dead.
It looks more like the molt from an Pilumnus sp.

My emerald crab molted and I swore he had died since it was completely solid but later found him under some live rock... So it's possible that your finding molts...

Im sorry I didn't take your comments into more consideration but It looks like both of you are correct. I just spotted a Gorrila Crab perched ontop of the liverock...

Cheers!

 

[monkeypie102]

If you catch it an have a qt it sump try and get some pictures or maybe a vid someone should be able to id it then!

 

[AmberFL03]

Wow, fattest little crab I've ever seen...I'd call it a Balloon Crab lol

 

[peasofme]

cool looking crab. looks like a gorilla crab.