Xanthid(ae) Crabs.

[Mynx]

So, for the longest time our tank was peaceful. Besides the minor problems we've been having. (Read; Everything.) Advice; Don't buy live rock from morons when you're new to the hobby.

I ramble; A few weeks ago we bought some really small frags from a local friend, (On clear frag plugs, so we know no hitchhikers, I double checked! ) and I placed them all where we wanted them. Started to notice them being moved and rearranged, figured it was our serpent star. Then, Xenias started to go MISSING. Big ones, with nothing to show for them. Was on the verge of blaming peppermint shrimps, but decided I'd stalk the tank one night.

Found a Xanthid crab. Almost 2 inches in size.:deadhorse: Not happy, anyways, got him in QT, and while mad, I'm not going to kill him for doing what he does best. So I need some more info on them, what else they eat other than corals, if they'll bother some green spotted puffers if we put him in with them? (They're in a moderately empty tank, no corals.)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mynx]

Also; do they reproduce asexually or does there have to be a mated pair to have babies? (Want to make sure there's no more hiding before I start dropping the corals back on the rock I found him in.)

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

They are very destructive, especially the larger they get. They'll eat your clean up crew and will catch and eat sleeping fish. Toss it in the sump. The chance of reproduction is slim. Even if you had a male and female, the crab larvae wouldn't survive.

 

[Mynx]

Thank's Adrienne. Looks like he's gunna die though, no sump and no where else safe to house him and a fish has ich, gotta use the quarantine for treatment. Feel free to delete this thread now lol.