unknown crab i found in the tank

[bolt696]

Hi Everyone. Happy Holidays

I was just looking in my tank and found this in the tank. hard to see, but it is the same shape as an emrald crab only a little bigger than a silver dollar it is brown and tan and has hairy legs.

I could not get the picture any better.

I never purchased this, so it must have been a small hitch that grew. This thing is bigger than my tomato clown.

Anyone know what it is?

 

[DEXTER SOLIS]

It maybe Gorilla, if it is I was told they are not something you want in your reef

 

[MIKE NY]

when in doubt ..take it out.

 

[qy7400]

If it has black claws its a gorilla, bad. I'd still go with Mike and take it out and toss it in the sump.

 

[DgenR8]

Here's the seal with crabs.......
Nearly all of them are predators. The list of reef safe, semi reef safe crabs is very short. ANY crab with serrated claws is built for killing things, and ripping flesh. Smooth claws (think Porcelain Crab) are designed for filter feeding and algae scraping.
If your crab has serrated claws (almost a guarantee given the pic), it should be removed from your tank. Put him in your sump, he'll do a good job cleaning up in there. Just don't forget to toss him a piece of something to eat here and there.

 

[bolt696]

Thanks. I just looked up a better picture and I would say 100% it is a gorilla. I don't have a sump, but I have been watching it and it only stays in the rockwork. I have yet to see it come out and explore. Seems to be very happy eating stuff out of the rock crevises. Don't know what happens while I am sleeping. If I can catch this thing, would anyone like it? How big do they get?

 

[DgenR8]

They can get to be pretty big. Not like the jumbo blue claws you might find around here, but big enough to kill many of the fish we like to keep in our reefs. They hunt by night, so you not seeing his destruction is no surprise. At his current size, he's probably knocking off snails and hermits, but he's eventually going to hunt fish.

 

[bolt696]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8712895#post8712895 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DgenR8
They can get to be pretty big. Not like the jumbo blue claws you might find around here, but big enough to kill many of the fish we like to keep in our reefs. They hunt by night, so you not seeing his destruction is no surprise. At his current size, he's probably knocking off snails and hermits, but he's eventually going to hunt fish.

I have noticed a ton of emty shells in the past few months.

So I have no sump, does anyone want it or should I toss it?