Hitchhiker crab ID please.

[OranguTang]

Any idea what this is? It is black with white hairs. I have read that some people remove any crab they find if it has hairs, but I want to make sure this is a threat to my tank before I get all rambo.

Thanks.

 

[cro55f1r3]

i would say get rid of him because to me it looks like a gorilla crab or what ever they are called

 

[Tennyson]

Well, its kind of hard to tell what it is, but it doesn't look safe if you have a reef tank. It looks kind of like a Teddy Bear Crab or a Hawain Rock crab. I'm just guessing though. You can go to www.saltwaterfish.com and go to the inverts section to check some pictures of crabs.

 

[Guygettnby]

you need to get some better pictures in order to id the crab.

 

[OranguTang]

Here is a pic.

 

[rssjsb]

Looks like some kind of mithrax to me. Note the scoop shape of the end of its claws. Maybe Leslie will stop by and provide more information.

 

[LeslieH]

It does look like a Mithrax. Several species in the genus have hairy legs. Do keep in mind that while most people seem to be entirely happy with their emeralds some have reported that the crabs did eat corals or attacked fish. Only a few types of crabs are completely reef safe.

 

[OranguTang]

Thanks guys, I dont want to take any chances

 

[Guygettnby]

that is a cool looking mithrax, wish i was closer i would take him off your hands.

 

[abcat1993]

Yeah, I wish mine was black, too. Haven't seen them at any store.