can you Id a crab from just his shed?
 

I have a hitchhiker crab that I wish to Id
was wondering what type he was
can you ID a crab via his shedding armour>?
http://reefcentral.com/forums/attach...1&d=1490035442


thanks

Joey

pretty sure this is same crab not sure why when he was younger (in his skin?)
his jaws are red but anyways offer to help ID

thanks

Joey

I think it might be a Stone crab. These will sometimes hitchhike their way into our tanks via live rock.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/12/inverts

Looks like a mithrax.
The pointed claws indicate that it eats meaty foods. Supplementing with little bits of shrimp, etc. or shrimp pellets will keep it happy. They are opportunistic feeders, but won't catch a healthy fish.
Max size about 2.5-3".
They can be a very entertaining creatures.
There is an algae eating variant which has claws with flat, cymbal-like, tips for grazing algae.

thanks for the replies

Mithrax don't have black tips on their claws, at least not the ones I see. IMHO this is probably a stone crab, a carnivore which will grow way too big or die in an aquarium.

You sure, Ron?

About 2 years ago I collected this one from the keys. I was always under the impression that it was a mithrax.
If I remember correctly, it was living with some larger red emeralds and some larger white ones.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/a...psud3yzye2.jpg

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/a...psm2y3mpuq.jpg

Stone crabs are usually more oval-shaped and have a glossy shell.


Maybe it's a hybrid stonethrax crab? Lol

This link might help.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-12/rs/index.php

Stonethrax... I like it. :spin1:

No, I'm not sure, but then the Mithrax crabs I've collected are always either very green or very ruby. So no, I'm not sure.

What you both have there are baby trouble makers. As soon as they are big enough to grab something they will.

Nice link more crab Intel then I could uptake !
I will catch mine soon
as I spot him again

that crab looks like a trouble maker. Mithrax are usually reef safe when small but even they can get rambunctious and cause issues. I have always heard black tip claws need to get them out of your tank.