WC crab ID

[doryarlin955]

I found this little guy at a beach on the Florida gulf coast, I'm putting together a biotope tank once I get home (I'm on vacation right now ) and I'm trying to figure out if he's a keeper or not. Any ideas? It was found right in the surf, I was looking for shells and found him in a handfull. He's been living for about 5 days in a QT tank and looks really healthy (but then again, what do I know!) His shell is about 1/2 inch across, and his body is about 3/4 inch across (incl. legs)

 

[rydr119]

Not sure what it is but I live in S. FL and those things are everywhere. I usually see them out on the weed lines when my dad goes fishing. They tend to stay on top of the seaweed. I know when they get washed into the canals around me they are always on top of leaves and debris that is floating around.

 

[sl-atl]

We called them sand crabs. I put one in my "aggressive" tank a long time ago when I lived in FL. It would sift down into the sand until only its eyes were sticking out, which was kind of interesting.
Purely based on observation, I think they are carnivores since I've seen mobs of them eating dead critters, so they may not play nicely with tankmates that are slow-moving unless you keep them well fed. (Note the sharp, pointy claws... ;-)