ID this hitchhiker crab?

[Woogiekids]

Hitched a ride on a coral I bought today. Doesn't look to friendly...but totally awesome. Guessing he's a sumper. About the size of a lima bean.

 

[thebkramer]

WOW!! What a find!! Awesome Looking for sure!!
his pinchers look like they are rounded and pointy
I hope hes one of the good guys!!!
some links to help incase noone knows...

ChucksAddition
MelevsReef
Inverts

 

[thebkramer]

hmmm... is it this guy??

Spider Crab..
Dendronephthya Crab - Hoplophrys oatesii or Candy Crab
http://www.starfish.ch/c-invertebrates/spidercrabs.html

 

[kingfisher62]

Holy Crap, that is amazing. I have never seen anything like it! I wonder if it is some sort of decorator crab , thos spike look like they could hold a lot of debris.

 

[Woogiekids]

Thanks all. It could be some sort of decorator crab. If you look at that pic, it looks like it stuck a piece of the Carnation Coral on it's back (that's what it came on).

 

[thebkramer]

when I research Candy Crab.. the pics look just alike. It says they do like (protect) corals and eat phyto. I hope thats what it is!!

 

[TreyK]

Hoplophrys oatesii

 

[thelizardkin]

it seems to small to do any damage

 

[TBE]

Nice!

Nice!

Check out this link.http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=crabs_of_japan&id=931

 

[OregonReefer]

Here you go

http://www.lembehresort.com/candy_crab_hoplophrys_oatesii_c14.html

Very cool find

 

[Woogiekids]

Perfect everyone! Thanks so much for the ID. He's back in the tank, and happily hiding under one of the branches of the Carnation. I'll post a few updated pics later.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

That has got to be the coolest crab ever! Says on the one link that sightings are rare!

 

[Woogiekids]

Here are a few more shots, although he is right at the curve of the bowfront, so getting a totally clear shot was hard. He's so happy back in his home, instead of my tupperware!

 

[gtphale]

Thats one crab I wouldn't mind trying

 

[Woogiekids]

A couple more just for fun. He's a poser. -

 

[OregonReefer]

Coolest hitchhiker ever!

I'd pay 3 figures for a coral with a host like that

 

[geemanaz]

Look like a nice candy crab
nice rare find

 

[kingfisher62]

Incredible camo, matches the coral perfectly!

 

[The_Codfather]

it seems to small to do any damage

Like red bugs?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

That is an amazingly cool hitch hiker! Congrats!