Strange little crab

[tleip]

Just discovered him on top of my clam...I plucked him off and he is now somewhere in the sump. Anyone seen this before?

<a href="http://s678.beta.photobucket.com/user/tleip/media/MrCrab_zps725103b1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/tleip/MrCrab_zps725103b1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo MrCrab_zps725103b1.jpg"/></a>

 

[IdahoGuy]

His claws aren't black, so he's probably reef safe. Someone here will know better though.

 

[fishgate]

Decorator Crab?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+627&pcatid=627

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

A picture of the whole crab might help. Have a look here to see if you find a match. http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchcrabs.html

 

[tleip]

...that is the whole crab

 

[NeilFox]

He's a type of decorator. Not really reef safe. SoSo. They camoflage themselves with whatever is availble. I had in in the system that liked my sponges and gorgonians...

 

[spieszak]

I believe she meant where you can see the whole crab. Details are everything with id's. Not seeing the backside can leave ambiguity.
I agree with decorator also, but I'm no crab expert.

 

[J2T]

Looks very much like a decorator crab from what little we can see, but again getting a better picture might help. Not 'reef safe' per say but I have one in my tank and he just grabs pieces of whatever to cover himself in, which has mainly been sponges so far.

 

[tleip]

Sorry for the bad pic, I was in a hurry to catch the dude....when I brought the net down, the clam closed so hard that it blew the crab up in the water so high I caught him like a fly ball.

I'll see if anyone local wants him.

Thx,

T