Over 260+ items identified - by picture!

[nekomi]

Hey Melev,

I found an interesting little crab in my tank today, and thought you might like to add it to your ID site. Feel free to use the photos.

It's a type of Xanthid crab, Atergatis floridus (Brown Egg Crab, Coral Crab). The one I found was quarter-sized, but they can grow up to about 5" across.

I'm not sure whether to blame it or not for the loss of a new mushroom polyp I added two days ago, but nonetheless, he's now living in the fuge.

 

[uwbadgerfb]

Identification Help

Identification Help

I have a question regarding idenification of a crab that had been eluding me for a long time. I think it has taken out several of my fish and coral. I have finally captured it, but I would like to know if anyone knows what this crab is called and if I was correct in assuming that he was the culprit of multiple deaths in my 55gal tank. He was about 2.5inches wide at capture. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide.

 

[uwbadgerfb]

Photo

Photo

Sorry this is my first time posting. I didn't attach the photo correctly the first time.

 

[melev]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8596895#post8596895 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nekomi
Hey Melev,

I found an interesting little crab in my tank today, and thought you might like to add it to your ID site. Feel free to use the photos.

It's a type of Xanthid crab, Atergatis floridus (Brown Egg Crab, Coral Crab). The one I found was quarter-sized, but they can grow up to about 5" across.

I'm not sure whether to blame it or not for the loss of a new mushroom polyp I added two days ago, but nonetheless, he's now living in the fuge.

That's a great picture. Looks like what some call a Gorilla Crab, or simply Ahnold (as in Schwartzeneggar). I'd love to add it to the ID page.

 

[melev]

Re: Identification Help

Re: Identification Help

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8600567#post8600567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uwbadgerfb
I have a question regarding idenification of a crab that had been eluding me for a long time. I think it has taken out several of my fish and coral. I have finally captured it, but I would like to know if anyone knows what this crab is called and if I was correct in assuming that he was the culprit of multiple deaths in my 55gal tank. He was about 2.5inches wide at capture. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide.

First of all,

[welcome]

Your picture is fine, but a tad too small for me to see it. Even then, I may not be able to help you ID it. I need to see the claws, and a picture of it showing its belly helps too. Dr Ron (on the Marine Depot forum) is the expert when it comes to IDing crabs.

To attach pictures here on RC, there is a great there in the New To The Hobby forum (look for the Stickied Thread at the top) with all kinds of screenshots to help you navigate the procedure. Using Photobucket will let you share larger images for free.

 

[nekomi]

That's a great picture. Looks like what some call a Gorilla Crab, or simply Ahnold (as in Schwartzeneggar). I'd love to add it to the ID page.

Awesome! Do you need a name for the photo credit? If you need a bigger file, let me know. Do you want a description of the crab? I don't know much about it other than its scientific and common name. And the theory that it MAY have eaten two tiny mushroom polyps.

I thought that gorilla crabs were usually hairy, not smooth? Or is any Xanthid crab called a "gorilla"?

Thanks Melev!

 

[melev]

Yes, I need a real name, or I give photo credit to your RC name. Images should be 640 x 480. Anything you can add information-wise is appreciated, even personal observations.

And "gorilla" is exceedingly generic. Did yours appear to have red eyes?

 

[nekomi]

Yes, I need a real name, or I give photo credit to your RC name.

You can credit the photo to Amanda Stanoszek.

Images should be 640 x 480. Anything you can add information-wise is appreciated, even personal observations.

OK... feel free to take from this what you'd like.

The crab was active mainly at night, although he first appeared under the actinics. When viewed with a flashlight, he was not quick to scurry away, so I assumed he was a slow-moving crab; not the case! Once he was captured, he scrambled around the rubbermaid tub at top speed.

He spent the daytime hiding out in rock crevices, and explored at night, rarely straying onto the sand, but staying on the rocks instead. Each time I came across him at night, he was perched out in the open, on top of one of the rock structures. Interestingly, I ended up first discovering him while investigating a "click click" noise that I figured was a mantis. Instead, I found this guy. He appeared to strike his claw against the LR, producing the clicking noise.

I have had no snail or hermit deaths that I'm aware of, just the loss of two mushroom polyps that may have been unrelated (although the shrooms were placed near his home rock).

And "gorilla" is exceedingly generic. Did yours appear to have red eyes?

Nope... not at all. The eyes always appeared cream/yellowish to me, with black pupils. No red present at all.

 

[melev]

The ID page has been updated with 30 new items.

 

[Cshradr7]

Can you tell me what these are. I can see three of them right now looking into my 30 gallon tank which is still cycling. two of them are in the sand, and one is on the glass, all eating what i think is hair algae. i initially thought that they were isopods but they do not look like the ones in the pictures on your web site. their backs are greyish and they are approximatly 6mm in legnth.
here are the pics, the've all been blown up quite a bit, and are all of the underside of them looking through the glass.

a little closer:

really close:

 

[melev]

Hi Colin. I don't know, but that is a good question. Maybe it is in the isopod family. I'll see if anyone can help.

 

[zenya]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8646481#post8646481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Hi Colin. I don't know, but that is a good question. Maybe it is in the isopod family. I'll see if anyone can help.

I'm not one hundred percent sure but I think Marc is correct in that it most likely an isopod. From the pictures you posted it resembles closely isopod from the family Sphaeromathidae.
You can see some of the pictures and general description of the species here. I think it may be the male specimen. Your description of it;s diet preferences also makes it likely candidate for that particular family of isopods.

HTH.

 

[KrazyJenn]

The ID page has been updated with 30 new items.

Melves site has to be one of the most benefical sites I have ever seen, Its easy to navigate, and so easy to identify stuff on it!!
Thanks for keeping it up and updated!

 

[Cshradr7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8653563#post8653563 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KrazyJenn
Melves site has to be one of the most benefical sites I have ever seen, Its easy to navigate, and so easy to identify stuff on it...[/QUOTE

very true, i also agree with this and am very thankful for all of your guys' help.

about that bug on my glass, i think the isopod is correct and according to the link, its supposed to be benificial and just eat algae i think

thanks a ton

 

[melev]

Thanks guys. I'll try to add new stuff monthly as it took me almost 6 hours to add the 31 new items that night. I just couldn't leave it alone until it was done.

 

[Cshradr7]

Alright Marc, i've got another one for you guys, and i hope that this one will be easier. this guy came from etropicals labeled as a scarlet hermit, but it doesn't look like any that i have ever seen.

i appreciate the help
Colin

 

[melev]

That's definitely not a scarlet hermit crab. Does it only have one large arm/claw, while the other is a smaller size?

 

[Cshradr7]

yes the other is really small, here are some more pictures:

he is much bigger than any of the other crabs that i have in my tank. his shell is probably close to an inch and a half. immediatly upon introducing him to the tank he went and hid and molted.

 

[momentumfoto]

I searched for worms and looked thru this thread without luck...

I have a new tank set up for about a week now and this pesky little worm showed up. Is it good or bad? Hope this pic is good enough to identify. It's about a 1/8th of an inch long and just about that exact pinkish color.

 

[melev]

Yes, it is fine. It looks a little like a baby bristle worm, but it could even be one of these: http://melevsreef.com/id/polychaete_worm.html