Is this crab reef safe ?

[Johnic]

I found a hitch hiker with my new coral was wondering if this crab is reef safe before I place it in the tank.

 

[wvned]

Yes. It looks like a porcelain crab.
Filter feeder

they have 3 legs per side

crab - 4 legs per side

 

[griss]

I don’t think that’s a porcelain crab. The claw arms are way too long. I’m stumped on this one. Can you post a few more pics? What kind of coral and where did you get it?

 

[griss]

@Misled @vlangel @kharmaguru any thoughts?

 

[kharmaguru]

Could be some type of squat lobster and not a crab.

 

[griss]

Could be some type of squat lobster and not a crab.

As soon as you posted that it clicked in my head. I think you’re right. For some reason I had slipper lobster in my head and that is definitely not it.

Eh, slipper, squat…what’s the difference

 

[Misled]

well, my post doesn't matter.

 

[griss]

well, my post doesn't matter.

Look at it this way, now you have more time to yell at kids on your lawn

 

[Misled]

It's pouring, I ain't goin out there.

 

[wvned]

Perhaps, but I still think it is a porcelain crab. If you click on the pic you can see the large feeding appendages folded there.

 

[Johnic]

should I add into the tank?

 

[Johnic]

I don’t think that’s a porcelain crab. The claw arms are way too long. I’m stumped on this one. Can you post a few more pics? What kind of coral and where did you get it?

Not sure which coral it came from. I found him on the counter when I removed all the corals.

 

[griss]

If it is a squat lobster, it’s reef safe if I remember correctly.

 

[griss]

Personally, I wouldn’t hesitate to add it. The small claws make it less likely to be a problem.

 

[vlangel]

It does not look as threatening as this crab that I kept and it never did any damage to coral. I don't know what it is though so not sure.

 

[Misled]

Nice crab Dawn. This little guy messed with everything. Put him in a tank in my shop for a few years. His name was Dudly.

 

[reefing102]

I’m leaning squat lobster as well. Best I can tell is reef safe

 

[vlangel]

Nice crab Dawn. This little guy messed with everything. Put him in a tank in my shop for a few years. His name was Dudly.

He's cute Jesse but my boss at the Seahorse told me to beware of the hairy ones.

 

[Misled]

He came off some rock from TBS. I expect bad things to show up, so I caught him in QT. There are two things that tell he is bad. One is being hairy. The other is the black claw tips. He's a gorilla crab. Was a blast to feed. Put a scallop or a shrimp on a skewer and let him tear it off.
He was alone in a ten gallon for quite a bit, and as much fun as any tank I've had.

 

[vlangel]

He came off some rock from TBS. I expect bad things to show up, so I caught him in QT. There are two things that tell he is bad. One is being hairy. The other is the black claw tips. He's a gorilla crab. Was a blast to feed. Put a scallop or a shrimp on a skewer and let him tear it off.
He was alone in a ten gallon for quite a bit, and as much fun as any tank I've had.

Yes, even the 'so called reef villain's can make great pets! My oldest son kept a female mantis shrimp named Shakira as one of his early saltwater tanks.