What is a stick Crab?

[Trebella]

I picked one up at the store, but can't find any info of it on the net. He has a small body, but his pincher arms are long and has a joint. Like an elbow. What the heck did I buy?!


Stef

 

[Madman133]

I gonna take a guess and say you bought an arrow crab...Next time research before buying

 

[Trebella]

Nope, not an arrow crab. Only the front arms are long and jointed. I know to research... But don't ya just ever see anythigna nd think wow! Thats neat!?

 

[IslandCrow]

Yes, and it's tough to resist, but your reaction really should be to go back and at least find out what it is, what it eats and any other specifics to its care. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with this particular crab from the description. I don't suppose you could snap a picture?

 

[Trebella]

I asked the woman what it eats, and the info to care for him. I made sure I had enough stuff for it. I asked who he gets along with, and if he will eat my coral. I'm not completely dumb, lol, just impulsive.

I can snap a pic later, after my kids are napping

 

[Trebella]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/mom2lily04/IMG_0792.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/mom2lily04/IMG_0791.jpg

 

[TheMcs]

That thing looks evil! I wouldn't trust it in my reef.

 

[DiazE]

That looks like a baby Alaskan King Crab!

 

[chrismunn]

the owner of the LFS where i used to shop in california once told me that you can tell alot about a crab by looking at its claws. and by that, it will help you decide if you want to put it in your reef or not. black claws, or claws that look like they're made for shredding meat, are normally claws you dont want in your reef. i dont know how much truth there is to that theory, but it makes sense..
ive never seen one of thoes before.

 

[Trebella]

Still no Id.. any clues? I have this xposted, so hopefully I can find out what he is.

 

[sjfishguy]

Its a spider crab probably in the family Majidae. I wouldn't put it in my reef.

 

[IslandCrow]

Not worried about you being dumb. It's more the shop owners/workers that I worry about. Some of them are good, but I'd say the vast majority don't do their homework.

 

[lancer99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11973357#post11973357 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrismunn
the owner of the LFS where i used to shop in california once told me that you can tell alot about a crab by looking at its claws. and by that, it will help you decide if you want to put it in your reef or not. black claws, or claws that look like they're made for shredding meat, are normally claws you dont want in your reef. i dont know how much truth there is to that theory, but it makes sense..
ive never seen one of thoes before.

Not to be disagreeable, but unfortunately it's not that easy. For example, some types of porcelain crabs (Petrolisthes spp.) have big, mean-looking claws, but they're really filter feeders, and only use the claws in defense.

And the old "if it's hairy throw it out" rule isn't reliable either.

Not that any of that helps with the ID But there are some experts in the "Other invertebrates" forum who could probably give you a definitive answer.

-R

 

[shabreeson]

those claws look like they take up half of that things body weight, I'm sure it has claws that big for a reason. porcelain crabs and anemone crabs may have scary looking claws from the front but from the side they are thin and don't take up that much body weight. the more mass a limb has the more expensive(chemically) it is to maintain. You also cannot assume that keeping him well fed will always suppress that instinct to supply his expensive limbs.