Zebra Crab

[Winchester]

Can anyone tell about this zebra crab, if its reef safe, or what it preys on?

http://www.oceanrealmimages.com/gal...g2_itemId=87219

http://www.underwaterphotography.co...px?Thread=16200

 

[Winchester]

I wish some knew something about this crab, I know its tad rare. Please keep in mind its not a zebra hermit crab.

 

[useskaforevil]

links don't work.

 

[Winchester]

http://www.underwaterphotography.com/Forum/default.aspx?Thread=16200

http://www.edvineng.com/gallery/main.php/crustacean/C053.html

try this

 

[Winchester]

This is a first for REEF CENTRAL, this crab is rare but thought someone out there would know something. I cant find anything on this crab. Large reef site like this one, I was sure someone would know???

 

[Tang Salad]

My guess is some type of commensual crab, like the 'acro crabs', but perhaps living on another coral or invert.

What is it standing on in the 2nd picture? That might be it's partner. (Then again, it might not. Like I said, just guessing! )

 

[KMP]

these are great crabs that you don't see to often. they are reef safe. they will also mate up w/urchins. i had a zebra crab and a tuxedo urchin for a while - the zebra was always on the urchins back.

 

[Tang Salad]

Ok, from WetWebMedia: WWM

Family Eumedonidae: Urchin Crabs: Zebrida adamsii White 1847. Urchin Crab. Beautiful contrasting white, brown body banding. N. Sulawesi pix.

 

[Tang Salad]

And more, from here.

Abstract A small crabZebrida adamsii, an obligate symbiont of the sea urchin, lives solitary on a host from the earliest stage of its benthic life. In the breeding season males frequently move between hosts to search for mates. Analysis of daily positional changes of individually marked crabs indicates that males often land on the substrate to migrate between separate hosts. Females also change hosts before they copulate, but after oviposition they stay on the same hosts for a long time, similarly to crabs in the nonbreeding season.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12399071#post12399071 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Winchester
I cant find anything on this crab.

I have to wonder what you meant by this. These links were the first few hits in Google.

 

[Winchester]

Thank-you for your help.

 

[xpertrifle]

This thread has been dead for some time, but I just got 2 of these crabs. I put one on a halloween urchin and one on a pink urchin. The one on the pink crawled away and the one on the halloween is still there. I'm only on the first day but I'll keep you updated if any one is still watching this....

 

[xpertrifle]

My new Tile fish, he glows like crazy! I got two of them!

My awesome Sea Apple and new clam.

I got this crab and it is supposed to be symbiotic with the urchin, this is what all the research says. I have found that he picks the spines and arms off in a ring around the urchin then moves to the other urchin in the tank before he makes a full ring. (Maybe he does not get enough food) He does this very slowly and the spines grow back so he does not seem to hurt it.

 

[Sao870]

wow maybe he is just trying to find a spot to get settled in
but keep the updates coming

 

[Inigma]

That's really cool. I think inverts are my favorites. It reminds me a lot of a squat lobster-

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+506+2913&pcatid=2913.

I wish I could find one to buy.

Good luck!