zebra crab

[charlesr1958]

Now THAT is actualy a great looking crab! Been looking at wild urchins when I can but have yet to find anything, but thats half of the fun of looking, ya just never know when.

Chuck

 

[LeslieH]

Be careful handling the urchins Chuck - remember some of them are venomous.

 

[Grunt]

How did you find that guy (in stores), was he with an urchin you purchased?

Nice looking crab.

 

[charlesr1958]

Thanks Leslie, I do rarely see one type of urchin (gotta get a pic of one) that I remember as being described as "deadly", it has such a potent sting that it can put you into shock. Its the basic urchin body plan (shape) but instead of spines, it is covered in what I can best describe as "rimmed circular pads", I tried to bring one home for photos once and while it was in the bucket it released a gawd awfull amount of thick snotty clear mucus and killed everything else in the bucket (fish and another urchin species) Being the moron that I am, I started scooping out the "gel" untill I realized that my hand was starting to tingle and turn red. A vocal "oh!" had Linda asking her usuall of me - "now what got you?" ...lol Anyways, I gotta get a pic of one sooner or later, very weird looking urchin.

Chuck

 

[LeslieH]

Poor Linda - you sure keep her hopping!

Sounds like the flower urchin Toxopneustes pileolus -
http://www.seadb.univpm.it/en_Flower-urchin-Toxopneustes-pileolus_235.htm#
http://www.scuba-equipment-usa.com/marine/JUL05/Flower_Urchin(Toxopneustes_pileolus).html

It does have spines but as the video in the first link shows the modified pedicellaria with expanded tips & poisonous venom are longer than the spiines.

 

[charlesr1958]

Yup! Thats it. Thanks!

Chuck

 

[mollymonticello]

You can buy these crabs online for like, $30. They live on Asthenosoma varium, fire urchins. I haven't seen these available before, but hope they will be soon, since the crabs are coming into the hobby. I'll get one for my zebra crabbie if they do become available. Just another thing I have to look for before putting my hand in the tank.

That Toxopneustes pileolus is a weird looking urchin. If I ever see one, I'll remember not to touch.

 

[mollymonticello]

Well, my zebra crab killed the white urchin, which died under the most inaccessible rock possible. I haven't seen the crab since. He also molted the day before the urchin died. I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't get off the white urchin and move to the other urchins I have in the tank, which are the same kind. Now I feel bad because I'm pretty sure my zebra crab is dead.

 

[charlesr1958]

The crab may just be in hiding while its new exoskeleton hardens. Hopefully it will show up on another urchin in a few days or so.

Chuck

 

[1337TANKHAX]

i ordered one of the zebra crabs from liveaquaria diversden and it didnt do well in my tank at all. all of my parameters were fine. it just moved very slowly for a couple days and eventually i found it upside down on the substrate. i just dont think that these crabs are very well suited for the home aquarium. we dont know enough about them yet.

 

[finsurgeon]

1337TANKHAX,
Didja have an urchin? Seems like your tank is a little small for an urchin, and a tank without an urchin is a little small for an urchin crab.