Sargassum Crab

[SoFloReefer]

I pulled a tiny crab out of the weed lines in the Keys. I had seen several of them the day before and wasn't familiar with them. After a little research, I discovered that it is a Sargassum Crab. These crabs spend their life under the Sargassum weed and can be found very far out in the ocean. I found mine around 20 miles from land in 800 feet of water. It hid for the first few days after being introduced into my tank. Right now it is probably the most entertaining creature in my tank. It quickly swims around the tank using it's rear fins. When my Mystery Wrasse approaches it, the crab puts its claws up in a threatening manner. He sometimes hides in a small cave in the live rock, other times will bury himself in the sand and only his eyes will be visible. The most entertaining aspect to this crab is how it goes after food. When I drop pellets in the tank for the inverts, he will swim for a pellet faster than the Wrasse will. He will then spend the next hour cleaning up the rest of the pellets.

Here is a video I just uploaded to Youtube of the Crab.
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[bunzaroo]

I find these all the time when I go to the beach here in Miami. There is a whole set of organims that live in on the floating sargassum. Sargasum fish, nudibranchs, filefish, etc... You should get him a piece of sargasum to make him feel more comfortable in your tank.