Help ID ORANGE with WHITE CRAB

[scuba spy]

Can someone help id a crab that is orange with white. I try to catch him but he's hard to find, alway hiding.

 

[scuba spy]

he has molted his skin which he does ones in a while. will try to post pic

 

[scuba spy]

here is a picture.

 

[scuba spy]

 

[scuba spy]

wasn't able to get an actual pic of the crab because he is always hiding, just pic of his molted skin.

 

[scuba spy]

 

[scuba spy]

 

[LeslieH]

Your live rock is from the tropical Atlantic/Caribbean, right? Then this is Platypodiella spectabilis. It prefers to feed on palythoa and is not only immune to the palytoxin but incorportates it into its own tissues for defense.

 

[scuba spy]

Most of it is tonga but I also have some caribbean mix in. He must have been there for a couple years now because I have not add any caribbean LR for 5 + years. I guess its ok to leave him in there because I have not seen any damage done to my palythoas. Thanks for the info Leslie.